FCCI

When Janet and I were in Israel just a few weeks ago, we visited the Garden Tomb … it was empty!!

Our “guide” made sure we all understood that no one knows for certain where the tomb in which the body of Jesus was placed following the crucifixion actually is located.  This one has enough unique characteristics to make it a viable possibility, but … HE’S NOT THERE!!!

People around us may try to disparage so many things about what we believe as followers of Christ, but there are three things that give anyone pause when they honestly consider the reality of the resurrection:

              1.    This empty tomb.  If Jesus died, where is the body? 

              2.     The changed lives of the disciples - and other followers for the next 2000 years.  Men afraid to be connected to Jesus
              before the crucifixion, a few days later so deeply committed to Him that all but John died as martyrs.  Men and
              women don’t die for a lie.

               3.    About 2 BILLION people claim the name of Jesus in the world today.  Certainly, not all of those have a personal
             relationship with Him, or a vital, living faith, but a third of the world’s population at least nominally claims to be His
             followers.

Of course, there is more we could talk about, but for us in the world of business, the empty tomb brings an incredible perspective to everything else we face – including the on-going challenges of economic and political turmoil globally … added to the “ordinary” stresses, strains and joys of leading a business. 

Consider Jesus’ experiences of this “Passion Week” – in just a few days He went from being acclaimed as “He who comes in the Name of the Lord” to “Crucify him!!!”  As your stomach aches due to the pressure of an empty bank account, declining customer base, or a myriad other things, remember both the spiritual and physical agony Jesus experienced from the Garden of Gethsemane through His crucifixion – and if you have not watched Mel Gibson’s movie, “The Passion of the Christ” lately, Good Friday is a perfect time to let it give you just a taste of what His agony must have been.

Never-the-less, as important as it is to know we have a Savior who can identify with our suffering and challenges, it is far more amazing to remind ourselves that we have a Savior who overcame that suffering – and death itself – so that you and I could have access to all of the resources we could ever need to face our own circumstances.  He is able to “supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19) and “is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20).  Nothing we face is beyond our Risen Savior’s ability to either deliver us from or enable us to endure through in ways that testify to everyone who is watching that the tomb is still empty … HE IS RISEN, INDEED!

Have a blessed Easter,

Doug

President and CEO

Fellowship of Companies for Christ International / Christ@Work

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Cell:  678-358-9341

www.fcci.org

4201 North Peachtree Road

Suite 200

Atlanta, Georgia   30341