Focus on God, Fuelled by Faith

By Rev Lim Jen Huat
Published on April 12, 2023

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here! He has risen!” (Lk 24:5,6). On Easter Sunday, the angels greeted the women with these words. God has done something marvellous!

Three days earlier, Jesus was crucified, died, and buried. Perhaps, the women reasoned that at death, this was how things had always been and how things would always be. They can only mourn at Jesus’ tomb.

Easter shocked them to a new reality. On Easter Sunday, God did something impossible and unheard of in our world and in the history of mankind. This will be the new norm for us!

As Easter people—people with the resurrection hope—we must throw away our old mindsets and live in God’s new reality. He has conquered death and the grave! Alleluia! Focus on God and be fuelled by faith.

Focus on God! Jesus is True

The resurrection means Jesus is true! True in what He said, true in what He promised, and true in who He claims to be! Easter authenticated Jesus!

In his book, Why Believe in Jesus, Donald English wrote:

…God is saying through the resurrection that Jesus is different in kind from all the other teachers, Rabbis, and prophets you have ever known.

This is important because the fundamental question about Christianity is not ‘does it make you feel better?’ or ‘do you join a nicer set of people?’ or ‘does it give you a greater sense of purpose and peace?’…

The fundamental question about Christianity is ‘is it true?’

If it’s not true, it does not matter how you feel about it.

There were lots of people who felt better following Adolf Hitler. There are lots of people who have felt better following all kinds of cult groups and sects, which we know are clearly misguided.

The question is not how you feel, or whether it suits you, or whether it settles into your culture nicely.

The question is ‘is it true or is it not?’

At the very heart of Easter day is the affirmation of God: ‘It is true, because it is based on Jesus and Jesus is the Son of God raised from the dead.’

So wherever we are in life, let us focus on God and put our trust in Jesus; the author and perfecter of our faith!

Focus on God! God is Bigger than our Problems

On Good Friday, the disciples’ problems prevailed. They were too weak, too frightened, and too powerless. Events were beyond their control. Their prayers were unanswered.

The enemies of Jesus plotted to end His life and ministry. On Easter Sunday, the cross became God’s way of redeeming the whole world! “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (Jn 1:29)

Easter is proof that God is bigger than our circumstances. As I write this article, I am grieving (with our church) at the sudden deaths of two dear friends and co-labourers in the Lord. I too have questions, “Why God? How come? Why now? What went wrong? Should I have been more helpful, careful, prayerful, or sensitive?”

I rest in this thought that I am not in control of life; God is! And God is bigger than my failures and ignorance. Despite my limitations, God works out His perfect plan and purpose.

“…in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Rm 8:28)

As Easter people, we reframe our worldview with the Lord at the helm! As Karl Barth says in The Word of God and the Word of Man:

He stands at the boundary of our existence: where it is clear that since existence is bounded by God, it must be comprehended, determined, and governed by God….

But the source even of our sense of problem is in God.

Our searching as well as our mistaking the way, our understanding as well as our falling, our remembering as well as our forgetting, our yes as well as our no, is compassed about and upheld by Him.

He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust. We are known before we know. This is saying neither too much nor too little. And this is certainly the ultimate biblical vista.