If you know me, you know I set goals in my walk with Christ. I want to know Jesus personally better today than yesterday, but not as well as tomorrow. As I learn the power in Christ’s story, His resurrection story, I realize it began in Genesis 1:26. (Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…”) The power in knowing Him is realizing that He was there in the beginning and as I know Him, I am learning more about Him and how I am created to worship Him.
As I continue to read through my Bible, my resurrection story swells with knowing Christ more deeply. There is evidence and prophecy of Jesus and His coming, His life, and His resurrection story foretold from Genesis to Malachi. My understanding of God’s plan for me is one of being rescued, redeemed through Christ’s resurrection, and it deepens each time I read the Bible.
Paul says he wants to know the “power of his resurrection.” This is the first step in knowing the incredible power given us through the resurrection of Christ. One must look and see how their story, your story, has this power in it. From the beginning of my story as a six-year-old through high school, knowing Christ’s sacrifice for my sins and decisions helped me realize how much the resurrection power was reflected in the choices I made every day.
Then, I started my college years — could I get a do-over for my freshman year? Where was God in all those poor decisions I made? He was right there…forgiving me every time I stumbled and fell. He picked me up and forgave me, turned me around, pointed me back on the right path, and said, “I love you, my child. I’m here with you.” I did not have to have a new salvation experience because my salvation was bought with the blood of Jesus on the cross the day I asked Him to come into my life and forgive me of my sins: past, present, and future. For you see, God knew I would sin again, we all would, but God sent Jesus once to be our Redeemer. In these moments, I see the depth of His sufferings Past, Present, and Future.