Even though the game is still going on, we know the final score:

Jesus: 1
Satan: 0

Looking around the world today, it may not seem like it. Evil is rampant everywhere. Darkness pervades our culture. Some churches are closing their doors. People who follow Christ used to lead the way in politics, art, and science, but now it’s easy to believe we have been shoved out to the fringes of society.

And yet, there is Easter. The tomb is empty.

The same darkness that seems to be thriving in the world today tried to kill God on the first Good Friday a couple thousand years ago. And at first, it seemed like they had succeeded.

But in His typical style of smashing expectations, Jesus proved them wrong, not by climbing down from the cross and avoiding death, but by dying and then coming back to life!

What??? How is that even possible?

It’s not. Except that with God, all things are possible. Jesus said this in Matthew 19:26:

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Matthew 19:26 (NIV)

And then He proved it by physically coming back to life after being dead (see Matthew 28).

So what does this mean to us?

Well, for one thing, it means that we can trust God to achieve what we think is impossible. No matter how bad things are in the world or in your life, Jesus can repair and restore them. And He will, although the fix will almost never look like what you or I had envisioned.

It also means that we have this hope to latch onto–that in the end, death and misery and evil will be overcome. Jesus has already defeated them, but it will just take a bit more time for the story to unfold completely.

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.

Hebrews 6:19 (NIV)

Finally, Jesus’ resurrection confirms that we have not placed our faith in something flimsy or fleeting. If nothing else does, it should prove to skeptics that Jesus is who He says He is. And it should assure us in our times of doubt that even though God doesn’t always make sense to us, He is for us. He is good. He is working to our benefit, even when we don’t see it.

For these and many other reasons, I am so thankful to God for this Resurrection Day, and that in the end, love wins.

May you experience God’s abundant blessings on this day when all things are made new!