I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may
know... His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same
as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated
Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 1:18-20 NIV)
Resurrection is the paramount miracle. Death is
the greatest power against God's work, God's likeness, God's purpose. Death is
the greatest power in this universe against man; his labors, his hopes, his
wellbeing. Death is the last word in the creation as it is. Outside of God there
is no power in this universe as great as death. When it has intervened and done
its work there is nothing that can reverse or destroy it. In the realm of
evil there is no power that exceeds the power of death. This is why, in
referring to the resurrection of Christ from the dead, the words are used: "the
exceeding greatness of His power" (Eph. 1:19). When death has exceeded
every other evil power - sin, suffering, sorrow, and destruction, then God's
unique and exclusive answer is the only hope, and the one answer. More
importance and glory is placed upon resurrection in the New Testament than upon
any other matter. Indeed, everything else is declared to be in vain and
worthless until resurrection is established. Resurrection is stated to give the
value to every testimony and every work. Death, spiritual death (not cessation
of being) - of which the physical is only one small aspect - is Satan's horizon.
Resurrection is God's horizon in Christ.
Resurrection, we repeat, is the answer to death
in all its forms and aspects: God's answer in His Son, Jesus Christ. Having said
that, let us proceed to note that the next thing revealed in the New Testament
is that this supreme truth in Jesus Christ is the birthright of every one born
into God's spiritual family; the heritage of every truly born-again child of
God. But the point for special realization is that we must not make the mistake
that Martha of Bethany made, when she received such a revealing correction. She
said, concerning her brother: "I know that he shall rise again in the
resurrection." It is not something in the future for believers, but for the
moment when they believe on the Lord Jesus and receive Him. The order now is
first the resurrection of the human spirit and at last the resurrection body.
This, for any born-anew Christian needs no stating, although the meaning
may take years to learn.