Easter sunrise service
This morning we had Easter sunrise service beside the Pacific Ocean. When we started the service at 6:00 AM, it was dark, and the full moon hung over the ocean. By 7:00, the sun had come up behind us, illuminating a clear blue sky. At one point I suddenly noticed it was daytime. We began the service in the night, and it ended in the day. It reminds me of an excerpt form Paul's letter to the Romans:
"Salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armour of light; let us live honourably as in the day, not in revelling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." (Rom 13:11-14)
The passing night speaks not of the darkness but of the growing light. Just as the dawn cannot become darker again, neither can we allow ourselves to fall back into ways of living that, as Paul says, gratify the flesh.
And yes, that's right -- Paul describes salvation as being near, not a present possession. This is because salvation is for Paul a little more than saying the sinner's prayer and getting into heaven. That's another discussion.
Back to the service this morning. I found myself looking at the ocean a lot (isn't that what you are supposed to do when the service overlooks the ocean?). When it was dark, the moonlight glinting off the calm seas created in me a sense of tranquility. I was more able to leave my troubles at Jesus' feet and celebrate him. When it became light, I somehow imagined Jesus walking across the water. What would that have looked like and felt like?
All in all, it was a spectacular morning. Christos anesti!
"Salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armour of light; let us live honourably as in the day, not in revelling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." (Rom 13:11-14)
The passing night speaks not of the darkness but of the growing light. Just as the dawn cannot become darker again, neither can we allow ourselves to fall back into ways of living that, as Paul says, gratify the flesh.
And yes, that's right -- Paul describes salvation as being near, not a present possession. This is because salvation is for Paul a little more than saying the sinner's prayer and getting into heaven. That's another discussion.
Back to the service this morning. I found myself looking at the ocean a lot (isn't that what you are supposed to do when the service overlooks the ocean?). When it was dark, the moonlight glinting off the calm seas created in me a sense of tranquility. I was more able to leave my troubles at Jesus' feet and celebrate him. When it became light, I somehow imagined Jesus walking across the water. What would that have looked like and felt like?
All in all, it was a spectacular morning. Christos anesti!
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