With Calvary
April 2024
Easter for those in Christ’s church is normally a time of reflection. We reflect on the Passion of Christ and the Provision of the Cross—at Calvary. We reflect also on the victorious Resurrection which prophetically followed, which resuscitated the heart-broken disciples—after Calvary. We, furthermore, often reflect on the love that brought God’s grace down to man to span the mighty gulf which sin did create—because of Calvary. Truly the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is what makes Christianity unique among all religions and its message urgent among all nations! It is what is responsible for moving the sinner from misery to victory.
In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul argues that without the resurrection, we are yet in our sins. But praise be to God, it’s because Christ is raised that provision has been made to turn the unrighteous into righteous and the miserable into the hopeful. Those who hear and heed of how Christ tasted death for every man are lifted out of the despairing cry of their present misery and their sights are set on their blessed eternity.
Yet herein is where we discover how mere reflection falls short of its ultimate purpose. It’s from our internal reflections in rearward reminders that our eyes must then be lifted to behold the world’s fields of unreached peoples. This is Paul’s plea in Romans 10. Send a preacher unto the ends of the earth! That “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Saved from sin’s misery to the Savior’s service. It’s only in the hearing and the heeding of the message of redemption that the Resurrection accomplishes its intended purpose—to save sinners from their sin! This is what it means to go “With Calvary.” How much longer must the heathen in the uttermost wait before a preacher reaches them with that message of what happened at Calvary, after Calvary, and what awaits them because of Calvary?
Thank you for praying!
GFF General Director