The Empty Tomb…Fullness of Life!

Interesting fact:  Cruden’s Concordance shows that the word “empty” and its variants (emptied, empties), is only used 4 times in the New Testament, while the term “full” (and its variants) is used in a positive sense at least 60 times.  What a beautiful and wonderful contrast!  Here are a few “fully” loaded benefits we enjoy:

Because the tomb is empty and Jesus is alive, we are full of joy.

John 15:11 These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

1 Peter 1:8 …whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

Because the tomb is empty and Jesus is alive, we are filled with Christ Himself.

John 1:16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.

Ephesians 4:13 ...until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Because the tomb is empty and Jesus is alive, we are filled with the fruit of righteousness.

Philippians 1:9-11 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Hallelujah – the tomb is empty and I am full! I am filled by God’s Holy Spirit, fully forgiven and welcomed into His family, fully satisfied in Him with every spiritual blessing, filled to bursting with joy and glory, overflowing with living water.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for emptying Yourself so I can be full.  Make me a vessel, poured out yet never emptied, so that others may know You and your fullness.

A Magnificent Dwelling Place

The house that is to be builded for the LORD must be exceeding magnifical,

of fame and of glory throughout all countries.  (1 Chronicles 22:5)

David had a communion with God that most of us would love to attain.  He was filled with awe and wonder at the power and majesty of God as the Creator of all, but he also was aware of God’s presence in him and through him, one-on-one.  So when he began to prepare for building a place of worship, it had to be the best of the best, like no other place before.  And with God’s instruction and assistance, David’s son Solomon did build the temple, a place whose magnificence is considered even now a marvel.

Peter calls us, as Christians, living stones that are being built up as a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5).  Surely this house should also be “exceeding magnifical!”  It must be a testimony to the greatness and goodness and glory of God.  What will make this building exceed the fame and splendor of the early temple?

“And in Him (Christ Jesus) you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His spirit.”  (Ephesians 2:22)

What a statement!  I am part of an architectural wonder!  The master architect and construction foreman is God, and Jesus is the foundation.  We are the laborers, using bricks and stone, silver and gold, wood and straw (1 Corinthians 2:16).

I confess, however, that my dedication to this job is sometimes less than enthusiastic.  (After all, you know how some of those other laborers are, right?  Some of them are really lazy and apathetic, and some of them have a real attitude problem.  And if everyone isn’t working to their best, why should I?  Right?)  If this is how I approach the work of God, it’s no wonder that this building isn’t getting the kind of recognition it should!  I need to remember David again, and his intimacy with God.  Is my relationship with Him hindered because I’m building His temple with a selfish or “what’s the use?” attitude?  Am I really building up, or tearing down?

 Lord, give me a new vision of you and your holiness.  Help us all to work in the building of your dwelling. I want to be exceedingly lovely to You.