Sorrow may last for a night, But joy comes in the morning

Though they had not really understood/believe it, Jesus had told them before He died, that He would be killed and then rise again the third day (Mark 9:31). And then on the third day He did indeed rise again. A skeptical world did not, nor does it believe. The evidence however, is unassailable for those who will receive it. But what is this “receiving it” all about? Well if it is true, then there are many implications. If Jesus rose from the dead as He said He would, then we can be sure that everything else that He said is true. And if this is all true (and it is), then we had better do what He says. I mean if He is indeed the way the Truth and the Life and He is the only way to the Father, the only way to Heaven (John 14:6) then we need to follow Him. And there is no middle ground, if we are not for Him we are against Him (Luke 11:23).

To me the most compelling evidence for a literal physical resurrection, is the change in the disciples. They went from being cowards who ran away and betrayed Him, to not many days afterwards, changing to those who turned the world upside down. Some say it was all a lie, they liked the easy life they had had, and simply wanted to continue. Really? With the possible exception of John they all died for their faith. And who dies for something they know is a lie? Similarly all other “explanations” of what happened are easily seen to be overly simplistic. So why does not everybody believe? The short answer is that is costs too much to believe. If it is true, then I will need to change, I will need to repent. Some are simply not willing to do this, other are offended at what God allows or expects of them, or they are offended by what some of those who name His name do. Still others “love darkness rather than light” (John3:19), but in all cases the truth is suppressed (Romans 1:18). So people choose not to believe either passively or otherwise!

But this morning I want to talk about the promise that though “Sorrow may last for a night, joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). You see if Jesus rose from the dead (and He did) then every promise is “Yes and Amen” (2 Corinthians 1:20). And your sorrow and mine will be turned to joy. It is a sure promise. The heritage of the servants of the Lord is that no weapon formed against us shall prevail (Isaiah 54:17). The promised deliverance however is not always, probably not usually, instantaneous. The night may seem long. But as I have said when the deliverance is long in coming, then the resurrection (deliverance) of those who wait in hope and endure is all the greater (Matthew 24:13). In fact we read about some of the heroes of Faith, that they did not accept deliverance in order to obtain a better resurrection on the last day (Hebrews 11:35).

Father, Paul could speak about his horrendous suffering (2 Corinthians 11:24-29) as not being worth to be compared to the glory that is to be revealed in us (romans 8:18). You had shown him something of that glory (2 Corinthians 12:2). Help us this morning Lord not to be slow of heart to believe all that You and the prophets have revealed (Luke 24:25). Help us Lord in the darkness of our night, to continue to trust and believe that joy is indeed coming in “the morning” in Jesus Name Amen