Rise

The definition for this word is: “To move from a lower position to a higher one; come or go up.” While I was thinking about Easter, I began getting some interesting ideas about the word “rise”. The first one, of course, was Jesus rising from the dead. Jesus said, “They will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.” (Luke 18:33). Jesus was speaking of Himself. He also said a few times to those who were crippled, “Rise and walk” (Luke 5:23).

Then, there are images of us rising. Think about baptism. When we are baptized, we go down under the water then we, as the definition says, “move from a lower position to a higher one”. We are lowered down but then we rise up. “Just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:4). Another way to think about us rising is the term, “working your way up”, to advance from a lower-level position to a higher one. This can be done in a job, in sports or personally. But, as we know, this takes work, effort and persistence. Once we get saved, we immediately “rise up” to be children of God. But to advance in the Kingdom, we have to work and use the gifts He has given us. He’ll be with us always. Jesus not only rose from the dead, but He was taken back UP into Heaven. “While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.” (Luke 24:51). Lastly, let’s look at what may happen on the Last Day. The Bible says, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall RISE first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up (RISE) together with them in the clouds.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Did you notice I said what “may” happen on the Last Day? In order to “rise” to meet Jesus in the air, we must be born again. If you’re not prepared to “rise”, please get ready today.