The Power of God

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. (Romans 1:16)

     I am reminded of one famous mountain that became the focus of the world’s attention on May 18, 1980. You might remember that on that day there was an incredible explosion, which was estimated at 500 times more powerful than the force of the atomic bomb that destroyed Hiroshima. This explosion was so powerful that it ripped 1,200 feet off the top of a 9,700 foot volcano known as Mount St. Helens.

     But Mount St. Helens was not very powerful compared to a volcano which erupted in 1883. Mount Krakatoa, in Indonesia, erupted with a force that was equal to 30 hydrogen bombs. The power from Mount St. Helens was estimated at 500 atomic bombs. One hydrogen bomb is equal to 1,000 atomic bombs. So, Mount Krakatoa was equal to 30,000 atomic bombs. Mount Krakatoa was 60 times more powerful than Mount St. Helens. During the eruption of Mount Krakatoa, tidal waves killed 36,000 people in Java and Sumatra, and a cloud of ash cooled the earth’s climate for almost two years.

     These examples of natural eruptions of power are but small examples of greater forces at work in the universe. The truth is that we haven’t begun to comprehend the limitless power of God. Today, we celebrate Good Friday – good only because of what culminated on Easter Sunday -  a display of His power in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This power is not destructive power as in an earthquake or the eruption of a volcano. It is creative power. And it may be unlike any power you have ever experienced.

     The release of this power in Christ’s resurrection has implications for us today. One of its implications is that the power that caused Christ to rise from the dead can impact our lives as well. And if there is a power like that available to us, it would be a tragedy not to be aware of it. The resurrection of Christ, which we celebrate every Easter, is the fundamental issue upon which Christianity either rises or falls. Our faith is based on it.

     Romans 1:4 says that Jesus “was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead.”  The power of God demonstrated in Christ’s resurrection is the key issue of Christianity. If Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead, then He was a fake, what he said was not true, and we might as well believe something else.

     The great apostle Paul said without the reality of the resurrection, our preaching is vain, and our faith is vain.  If Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead, then we are believing a myth.  The validity of Christianity rises or falls on the veracity of the resurrection.  The truth of Christianity is verified by God’s power.

     To many, we Christians make an amazing claim.  We claim that Christianity is the only true way to God.  Some think we are quite arrogant to make such a claim.  But we do not make that claim out of arrogance, we make it out of assurance. Our assurance comes from the evidence of Christ’s resurrection from the dead. It is this resurrection that sets Him apart from all others.  Many have come before Christ, and some have come after.

But only Christ has died and come back to life by the power of God.

     This Easter Sunday may each of us plan to attend a Bible-believing Christian church and celebrate the power of His resurrection and the power He has to save everyone who believes! 

Pastor Krouse can be contacted at sskrouse@succeed.net or 696-0563.