And you thought it was over?

Let me set the scene for you.

It was around 2000 years ago. The prophets of old had been foretelling for a long time the coming of a Messiah, a Savior who would set the people free from oppression. A child was born. This child grew up performing miracles and proclaiming he was the long awaited Savior. A camp of people began to believe his claims. They began to believe that he truly was the Savior foretold by God. This camp of people put all of their hope and trust in him to save them from their oppressors. The people at the time were very oppressed by their government. Their hope was in this proclaimed Savior to deliver them from their oppression, which they presumed to be the harsh government regime under which they lived. Another camp despised this man. They hated his claims that he was a savior, that he was the messiah proclaimed by God. They were jealous that he was gathering such a following and decided to have him killed. The jealous people were successful. They successfully got one of his good friends to betray him and eventually this "Messiah" was condemned to death on a Cross, the worst form of death possible. The man was beaten beyond recognition, his hands and feet were nailed to a Cross, scorned, condemned, and mocked. Then, the man proclaimed... it is finished. The man died.

Evil had won. It was over, it was finished.... the man said so himself. Those who put their hope in this "Messiah" had to be incredibly dejected. This man that they had spent years following and had given up all their material possessions (including family and friends ) to follow had let them down. He was crucified. He was dead. They were still under oppression. That was the end of hope for them. They had believed a lie, they had wasted their time following someone who didn't fulfill his end of the bargain. Depression set in. It was over. It was finished. Hope was lost.

Three days later, this man rose from the dead. He conquered death. Hope was restored! It wasn't over, it was merely beginning! This man proved Himself the Messiah and the Son of God that He claimed to be all along. Hope was restored! His followers were freed from oppression, though not the kind of oppression they expected to be freed from. His followers were able to rejoice! Their efforts, their sacrifices had not been in vain! Hope was restored!

Ever feel dejected and broken down? Ever feel like life just kicks you in the face? Ever choose to follow something only to feel like that choice wasn't worth it in comparison to everything you have given up for that choice?

HOPE WAS RESTORED! Don't give up. The Messiah, the Savior has risen from the dead! We can have faith in God's sovereignty and His plans in our life when things are incredibly hard because of this fact. The Savior has risen from the dead. He was not defeated and neither will we be. Don't give up. Don't lose hope. Focus on Him who conquered unbelievable odds for our redemption. We have the freedom to not falter in our faith, to trust that God knows what He is doing even when times are really really hard, because His Son conquered death.

The enemy is defeated. HOPE IS RESTORED!