So, the grave was empty –  Praise the Lord!  Death no longer has the victory!  The enemy came to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus… He came so that we might have real and eternal life, more and better life than we ever dreamed of… rich, satisfying, and life to its fullest, until it overflows, both here and in Heaven.  (John 10:10)

This is what comes after Easter… Empty-Tomb Victory!

But how do we get it?  How do we grasp hold of what “empty tomb victory” means in every day living?

One way to live in “empty tomb victory” is to embrace the beautiful truth found in Lamentations 3:21-26: (It’s one of my favorites!!!)

But this I call to mind,
Therefore I have hope.

It is because of the Lord’s loving kindnesses that we are not consumed,
Because His [tender] compassions never fail.
 
They are new every morning;
Great andbeyond measure is Your faithfulness.
 
“The Lord is my portion and my inheritance,” says my soul;
“Therefore I have hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him.”
 
The Lord is good to those who wait [confidently] for Him,
To those who seek Him [on the authority of God’s word].

It is good that one waits quietly
For the salvation of the Lord.

Lamentations 3:21-26 (Amp)

Praise the Lord!!!  You and I are NOT consumed.  God’s mercies toward us are NEW every morning.  Great is His faithfulness to us!  He is ENOUGH plus MORE for ALL we need – and we can confidently wait for and depend upon Him for EVERYTHING.  That’s living in “empty tomb victory”!

In Jeremiah 29:11-14, God promises this:

 “For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call on Me and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear [your voice] and I will listen to you. Then [with a deep longing] you will seek Me and require Me [as a vital necessity] and [you will] find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.  I will be found by you,’ says the Lord…”  Jeremiah 29:11-14 (Amp)

If you have made a decision during this Easter season to turn from self-centered, self-dependent living to a life embracing all Jesus has to offer… to become one whose eyes and heart are determined to seek Him and live (Amos 5:4) , then may I share with you a simple way to begin seeking Him?

God will be found and fellowship with Jesus will be truly enjoyed (and you will be made full) through meeting with Jesus and spending time with Him through being in His Word.

Don’t know what to do?

This post I’m linking to below lays out a clear and simple plan for a daily 10 minute time with Jesus and His Word.  Everyone has to start somewhere – and if you are serious about seeking Jesus… this is a good place to begin.

How to start a daily quiet time

The beauty of Easter is the promise that this life is NOT all there is to living!  Our troubles here are but momentary… when compared to the Prize awaiting us after we draw our last breath (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). There is SO. MUCH. MORE to come than what meets the present-day eye.

And for those who seek the Lord, desiring to live in this Post-Easter-Empty-Tomb-Victory… He WILL  be found. “If you seek him, he will be found by you” 1 Chronicles 28:9. And when he is found, there is great reward, because “He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6.

Here’s the best part: When we have Jesus, God Himself, is our greatest reward. And when we have Him, we truly have everything. Praise the Lord!

Part 2 is next – with additional tips on how to keep living in that Joy, Peace, and Hope of “Empty Tomb Victory”.  With love and gratefulness for what “after Easter” means for each one of us~