A Strange, Numb Silence / by Shane D. Anderson

It's not the most important part of Holy Saturday, that day when Jesus rested in the grave. Even still, I'm reminded by Christ, dead in that tomb, that a lot of life is spent waiting. It is spent in between what God started and will soon enough complete. In that waiting, despite evidences to the contrary, we are tempted to believe that life will just continue on in this monotony: a strange, numb silence like that of the day after Jesus died. Tomorrow's news tells us this is a false view of human and personal history. By sight, today seems like just another day, and so we imagine tomorrow is too. But faith in God's promise makes the heart long for tomorrow, the day of light and gladness.

This world started in God's creative act, "Let there be light!" Its future is a destruction in God's wrath, then a resurrection, a rebirth to him in Christ. What is true of the world is the very thing Jesus did for his people: He came as light into the world, suffered and died, and arose giving life. Tomorrow will be a lot different than today. Like the beginning of the resurrection that Sunday morning, the day of Christ's return to judge and make all things new will happen when it is not expected. In that day, some will rejoice, but many will sorrow. And nothing will stay the same. So how will that day find you? Will you be ready, faithful, trusting Christ and following him into the world he's prepared? Or do you think everyday will be like today? Christ's resurrection from the dead and ascension to his throne is a sign to the whole world that God is making all things new through him. "Behold, I am coming soon..." Revelation 22:12

In light of that day, the words of the Psalmist call to us:

Serve the Lord with fear,

and rejoice with trembling.

Kiss the Son,

lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,

for his wrath is quickly kindled.

Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

(Psalm 2:11-12)