TacticalChristianity.org
  • HOME
  • TACTICS
  • STRATEGY
  • E-BOOKS
  • REVIEWS
  • QUOTES
  • ABOUT
  • BLOG

Running on Empty

4/1/2018

 
Picture
Empty can be such a negative word: the empty glass, empty promises, an empty bank account, and perhaps worst of all when we are driving late at night and far from a service station and our fuel gauge shows that we are running dangerously low on fuel.  We are “running on empty.” 

But in God’s scheme of things even something empty can represent something very great.  This time of year carries a wonderful reminder of that in the message of the empty tomb of Christ.  As Christians we celebrate the empty tomb with awe at what occurred and thankfulness for what it means, but do we stop there, or does the story inspire us to do something with the news we have heard?  The Gospels can provide us with a reminder of what needs to follow the knowledge of the empty tomb in one of the details of the resurrection story. Notice what Matthew says regarding the experience of the women who came to the empty tomb and who were confronted by a messenger of God:

“The angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.  Then go quickly and tell his disciples: He has risen from the dead...' So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples”  (Matthew 28:5-8).

Here the women who were followers of Christ ran to tell the story of the empty tomb of Jesus and of his resurrection. It was the emptiness of the tomb that gave them a message that went first to those who were already disciples, and then outward to the whole world.  And notice that they did not walk to deliver the message of the empty tomb, they ran. They were running based on the importance of the empty tomb – metaphorically they were running on empty. 

Some two thousand years later the followers of Jesus should still be running on empty –  every generation has the opportunity to run with the good news. But is that what we are doing? Is it enough to celebrate the empty tomb, then to go back to life as usual, or should we be carrying the news to others with a sense of urgency?  If we are truly inspired by the story of the empty tomb and what it means – not only for us personally, but for all humanity – we, too, should be joyfully running with that message in whatever opportunity we have been given to deliver it. 

Comments are closed.

    Blog

    Follow @tacticalbelief

    RSS Feed

    For a smart browser-bookmark showing new blog postings, click on the RSS Feed icon above.  For more details on RSS Feed, click here.

    Author

    Unless otherwise stated, blog posts are written by R. Herbert, Ph.D., who writes for a number of Christian venues – including our sister site: LivingWithFaith.org.

    Categories

    All
    Archaeology & The Bible
    Bible Study
    Character
    Difficult Scriptures
    Discipleship
    Encouragement
    Family
    Fellowship
    Forgiveness
    Giving
    God
    Gratitude
    Great Commission
    Growth
    History & The Bible
    Knowledge & Wisdom
    Leadership
    Love
    Obedience
    Overcoming
    Persecution
    Popular Culture
    Positive Living
    Prayer
    Problems
    Relationships
    Service
    The Church & The World
    The Life Of Jesus
    Warriors Of The Way
    Women Of Strength

    Picture
    - Charter Member -

    Archives

    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013

     

©  2014-2019 TacticalChristianity.org.