God's Glory Church

What do you think when you hear the word “no”? We usually associate “no” with prohibition. Sometimes “no” means the absence of something very important in our lives. If we don’t have health, then we are unhappy. If we earn little or we don’t have money for the basic necessities, then this doesn’t make us happy either.
But if you look at this word from the other side, then “no” can be the cause of great joy and even laughter. When you come to the hospital with suspected cancer and the doctor, after an examination, tells you: “you don’t have cancer,” then this “no” makes us very happy. When you find out that your child has had an accident, you cannot reach him by phone and can no longer find a place for yourself, and suddenly they call you and say that your child has no injuries – at that moment this “no” is worth more than a million dollars to you. When you read about another terrorist attack and realize that your husband or wife is on a business trip in this particular city and in this particular country. You begin to anxiously look at the lists of the dead and missing, and then the news reports that there are no Ukrainian citizens among the victims – and this “no” is dearer to you than anything in the world.
Today’s holiday also tells us about one “NO”, which became the reason not only for today’s celebration, it became the reason for the joy of many people all over the earth.

In Luke 24:1-9 we read: “On the first day of the week, very early, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared, and certain others with them; but they found the stone rolled away from the coffin. And when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. When they were perplexed about this, two men suddenly appeared before them in shining clothes. And when they were in fear and bowed their faces to the ground, they said to them: Why are you looking for the living among the dead? He is not here: He has risen; remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again. And they remembered His words; and, returning from the tomb, they announced all this to the eleven and to all the rest.
The fact that Christ was not in the tomb where He was laid after His death on the cross is still the most joyful news today, the relevance of which will never be lost. It was precisely the fact that Christ was not in the tomb that was the most important evidence of His resurrection. Not everyone believed in Christ as the Savior during His earthly life, but neither His enemies nor His disciples could deny the fact of Sunday.

When the angel said to the women: “He is not here: He is risen”, they not only remembered Christ’s prophecy about His death and resurrection, they also remembered the Lord’s promise to prepare a place in heaven for everyone who believes in Him.

In John 14:1-3 we read: “Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, and believe in Me. In My Father’s house there are many mansions. But if it were not so, I would have told you: I am going to prepare a place for you. And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to Myself, so that where I am you also may be.”
In order for us not to be embarrassed about where we will be in eternity, it is important for us to believe in God and accept Christ as our Savior. If you’re not sure today where you’ll end up in your life, that’s what Jesus came for. A little further in this gospel we read:“Jesus said to him: “I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

“Is it possible to go to heaven without Christ? – No! Can you receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life without accepting Jesus as your Lord? – No!”

There is no truly happy life here on earth without the Lord, just as there is no eternal life in heaven, without Christ in your heart.
You may be doubting today and not sure where you are going and where you will be in eternity. Doubts are also a part of our lives, but the good news is that instead of doubts, you can find real confidence in the resurrection of Christ.
Many of you have heard the expression: “You are like an unbelieving Thomas!” Yes, even one of the apostles doubted and did not believe in the reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He didn’t believe it when the women who went to the grave arrived. He did not even believe the other ten apostles when they told him: “We have seen the risen Lord.” But when Christ appeared to him personally, he simply had no arguments left for disbelief:“After eight days, His disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came when the doors were locked, stood in the midst of them and said: Peace be with you! Then he says to Thomas: put your finger here and see my hands; give me your hand and place it in my side; and do not be an unbeliever, but a believer. Thomas answered Him: My Lord and my God! Jesus says to him: You believed because you saw Me; Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:26-29)
We may not believe for eight days, like Thomas, or we may not believe for more. But the reality is that Christ has risen, His tomb is empty today. And happy are those people who did not even go to Israel and did not see the empty tomb of Jesus, but at the same time believed in Him as their Lord and Savior!

Immediately after the story of the Apostle Thomas, we read: “These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:31)

You can become that person today. Today you can say to Him, like Thomas: “My Lord and my God!” Today is a wonderful opportunity to say “NO” to sin, uncertainty and gain firm faith that your name is written in the book of life.

How can you be sure of this? By accepting Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Savior.