The Empty Tomb

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While most of us are familiar with the Christian story, many of us have never reflected on the profound truth of the empty tomb.

The Christmas story is most familiar. The Easter story is as well. The images of Christianity are familiar thanks to generations of artists who gave us their interpretations of the events of the Bible.

Eventually, all these images blend together to become ingrained into our collective understanding of the themes that have defined Christianity.

Every Christmas, we are exposed to illustrations on Christmas cards, wrapping paper, books, magazines, and internet articles. We see the manger, the animals, the three wise men, and the image of the baby Jesus in His makeshift cradle.

At Easter, we are treated to images of a suffering Jesus on the cross. We may see depictions of Jesus struggling to carry His own cross to his execution, or an illustration of women who discovered the empty tomb. Throughout a lifetime we may see countless variations of these images.

While we may focus on these images at those appropriate moments, the very fact that we find them so familiar diminishes their ultimate impact. One such image is that of the empty tomb.

While the resurrection is the ultimate lesson of the Easter story, the image of the empty tomb is overlooked in the telling. It is more than just a glimpse in a series of critical moments. It is a powerful symbol of the ultimate message of Christianity.

If we step back a bit and reflect on the totality of Jesus’ ministry, we would recognize that the ultimate message is that human life does not end with physical death, and nothing illustrates that concept more profoundly than that image of the empty tomb.

Godly Instinct

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There is no question that the belief in a higher power has been a part of human consciousness for thousands of years. It seems that all groups of humans have a version of worship or appeal to some deity or power beyond earthly existence. And each style of worship believes the others are misguided.

Regardless of the spiritual trappings, they all have some things in common. They all seem to believe that physical death is not the end. They all seem to believe that there is some higher power that can influence circumstances affecting human life. They all seem to believe that establishing a worshiping relationship with that higher power will ensure beneficial results.

But, there is a more subtle commonality.

From a historical perspective, we can recognize that all of these groups, dating back thousands of years, have independently arrived at the same conclusion – there is a higher power. Why would that be?

The answer might simply be – instinct.

When we observe the behavior of animals in the wild, we recognize that certain behaviors appear to be “built-in.” Newborn puppies instinctively know to nurse on their mother. Birds instinctively know to sit on their newly laid eggs until they hatch. Bears know how to prepare for hibernation for the winter.

Perhaps human recognition of a higher power is instinct.

One of the ongoing debates regarding the nature of the human spirit is the concept of reincarnation. Such a concept assumes that the human personality exists independent of the physical body and can, in fact, occupy a series of human forms. Like many debatable theories, there have been cases of humans who have demonstrated an unexplainable knowledge or connection with a past life.

While not officially recognized by the Christian religion, such cases can hint at a spiritual existence before physical birth. Such a concept could easily explain why humans seem to be aware of the existence of that higher power we call God.

If, in fact, the personality and self-awareness exists prior to earthly existence, it would be understandable that we are born with an awareness of that spirit realm that leads us to seek to connect to that source.

Perhaps the ingrained awareness of the spiritual realm and the existence of God is a key element in our instinct toolkit.

 

 

The Bible – Fact or Fiction?

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Who wrote the Bible?

It’s a fair question, and one with no concrete answer. Much of the New Testament is fairly well ascribed to earlier followers of Jesus. That which we call the Old Testament is more difficult to identify, although the first few books of the Old Testament are believed to have been written by Moses.

In both cases, the writings which we know as the Bible were essentially historical records.

Or were they?

Other cultures also created historical records. And it is understood that some of these writings contained fictionalized accounts and gross exaggerations. We need to recognize that the political elements at any given time, may have influenced these writings. Perhaps the ruler of the moment contracted to have himself portrayed in a more heroic fashion. Perhaps an inspired writer invented stories in the same way that today’s writers create literature intended to entertain. Parts of the Bible are clearly poetry or akin to song lyrics.

Since the Old Testament portrays God in a variety of moods and actions, it is easy to conclude that the writers of these texts were guilty of flavoring their writing with their own interpretation of events. Even if we believe that the writings of the Bible were inspired by God, we need to accept that there was a human interpretation of God’s message. We also need to consider that some of the written texts were the result of  verbal accounts passed from one generation to the next until someone made the effort to create a physical record.

While modern archaeology has uncovered evidence to support many of the Bible tales, some elements remain questionable. If Moses was the author of the book of Genesis, he obviously could not be relating an eye-witness account of events that occurred before he existed. If Adam and Eve were the first humans, where did Cain’s wife come from after he was exiled?

While those questions will forever remain a mystery, there is one Old Testament element that clearly supports the idea that those writings were inspired by God – the Ten Commandments. Mixed in with stories of epic battles, enslavement, and brutal human behavior, the Ten Commandments stands as a revolutionary notion of ideal human interactions. It is a summation of moral and ethical standards that is the foundation of most of the laws that exist today.

Generations later, the teachings of Jesus clothed those Ten Commandments in simple everyday examples that people could identify with. Jesus’ use of parables might raise new questions of the legitimacy of those stories, but ultimately leads to the fundamental question that provides the answer to all the rest.

Is the Bible true or “truth?’ Think about it.

There is a difference.

Feeling Human

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There is no question that the debate continues. Are we a creation of God, or are we the result of some random sequence of evolutionary events? And there is no doubt that the results of advances in science cause many of us to lean toward the concept that accumulated events of evolution is the answer.

But when we analyze the elements that make up our human state, we must recognize that emotions clearly place us in a unique category.

One of the foundational aspects of evolution theory is that changes come about because those changes are a benefit to the organism. A simple example might be that giraffes developed longer necks to reach their food source as trees grew taller. Members of a species that don’t adapt are soon replaced by those who can.

But what about emotion? Where does that fit into the theories of evolution? Certainly, we can appreciate that fear would be beneficial to creatures hoping to avoid a predator. Perhaps we could equate an emotion of love to the nurturing instincts of a mother cat toward her little ones.

But what about hate? What about anger, or sorrow, or jealousy? What about joy or excitement?

It is clear that the full range of human emotions goes far beyond the basic elements of self-preservation. Try as we might, we would be hard-pressed to identify an evolutionary reason that we would develop and enhance emotions such as sorrow or joy. It would seem that such emotions contribute little or nothing to our ability to function effectively.

Perhaps the answer lies within the response to the question of evolution versus creation. Perhaps the answer is obviously – creation.

While the idea that evolution is responsible for the development of the plant and animal life that surrounds us is acceptable, the emotional toolkit that is incorporated into the human form cannot be justified by such thinking. It is only when we recognize that our emotional package is a necessary element in a spiritual being that inhabits the human form, that we can begin to understand.

At first, we might question why we would need emotions such sorrow or hate, but the answer is clear. Just as we cannot appreciate the light without the contrast of darkness, or sound of music without the contrast of silence, the contrast of sorrow and hate makes the appreciation of joy and love possible.

The human form that inhabits our world is the most complex life form on our planet. The human being is the temporary home of a self-aware, thinking, feeling, spiritual entity. It is only when we recognize that our emotions have no justification in evolution that we can begin to realize that our emotions are a gift from the Creator – the gift of feeling human.

 

Superstition versus Faith

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(The following is an excerpt from the book “Finding Faith in a Logical World.”)

Sometimes it’s hard to separate superstition and faith. Since both involve a belief in something unproven, the lines can become blurred, and it’s all too easy to drift into superstition when we try to invoke our faith. So, our first test of our power of logical thinking, our first quest for the truth comes by distinguishing between faith and superstition

Many of us have quirky little beliefs regarding luck. Anything from four-leaf clovers to wearing our “lucky” sox. Yet most of us would admit, if pressed, that our superstitions are harmless fantasies or baseless hopes or fears. We want to find that magical formula that will ensure us good fortune. We want to dodge bad luck. So, we indulge ourselves by engaging in silly little rituals “just in case.”

If we were challenged to “prove” our rituals or beliefs produced real results, we would probably be hard-pressed for evidence.

Remember, we are using logic here. How much power over our lives can we ascribe to a piece of vegetation? How influential can a pair of sox be in our daily lives? Or, is it possible that our superstitious beliefs cause us to look for good things to happen and we find them. Would those same good things occur if we left those sox in the drawer and instead simply made the choice to maintain a positive attitude and expect good things?

It is, perhaps, human nature to be constantly seeking that lucky formula. If we buy a lottery ticket at a particular retailer, on a particular day, at a particular time, will that improve our chances of winning? What if we wear our lucky sox that day?

We seem to be subconsciously aware that there is some type of order to the universe, and if we could just understand that order, everything will work to our advantage. Our fumbling attempts to identify that formula lead us into the realm of superstition, and coincidentally lead us to search for that universal power we call God.

While early man may have had a similar idea, that a higher power existed, he allowed himself to stray into the realm of superstition, believing that his actions would somehow please that higher power and that the higher power would then reward him.

Faith, as we know it today, also acknowledges that there is a higher power, but we now hold that this higher power is an unseen, unknowable force responsible for all of creation. We call this force – God. As He is the creator of all things, we conclude that there is nothing we have to offer that isn’t already His – except our devotion and obedience.

Through the Bible, we now understand that a life filled with joy and riches, free of pain and suffering, is not what God offers us. His greatest earthly gift to us, free will, comes at a price. That price is to endure all that our earthly existence throws our way. The message of Christianity is that our ultimate reward does not exist in this life experience.

Superstition is seeking that magic action that will cause God to reward us like a lottery winner.

Faith is trust – trust that there is a higher power, and that higher power always has our best interest in mind, even when we are distressed by circumstances in our lives.

 

Our Final Journey

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It is perhaps, our one true universal experience. If you are reading this, you haven’t had that experience yet. But your time is coming. Each of us, in our turn, will have that experience. It is, of course, death.

There is nothing in human experience that is more impactful than death. Religions, ceremonies, superstitions, and cultural traditions all have their roots firmly planted in the reality of death. It is probably the only thing that is universally feared while simultaneously acknowledged as inevitable.

It is also the one event we struggle to avoid, despite the knowledge that we would inevitably fail.

Strangely, it is something that we find more painful when our loved ones die than when facing our own death. Why?

If we were to analyze our own emotional reflex, we would recognize that when a loved one dies, we mourn our loss, more than we mourn the fate of the deceased. We feel the pain of losing the emotional connection we once had. We mourn the fact that we can no longer exchange those warm hugs or one-on-one conversations. Memories, once shared, are now held only by the survivor. Mutually shared future plans will remain unfulfulled.

When facing our own demise, most of us will have more concern for thse we leave behind than for ourselves. Perhaps we feel that way because we have had the experience of being the survivor. We have felt the pain of being the one left behind, and we regret that we cannot spare our loved ones that pain.

Perhaps there is an instinct that tells us that death is not the end. While spiritual leaders may propose variations on life after death, the universal agreement seems to be that existence of the human spririt or soul, continues after the body ceases to function. If that is the case, the only pain is the temporary separation between loved ones.

An interesting side note is the observation that many older humans begin to lose their fear of death as they approach the end of their lifespan.

Perhaps with age comes wisdom – the wisdom to recognize that what we call death is actually a transition, a release from the constraints of the human form. Like taking the blinders off, we become aware of sensory inputs that we were not even aware existed. We gain access to knowledge that our physical form could not comprehend.

For each of us, it is our final journey. It is a journey from a restrictive existence to an existence of unbounded understanding and love.

Fear of death is fear of the unknown. Once we begin to grasp the riches of the next dimension of existence, we may be ready to take that final journey without fear.

Time – God’s Ultimate Secret

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There’s no question that science is chipping away at all the secrets of our existence. Bit by bit, every element of our universe is being examined, dissected, and analyzed to discover the secrets that define every aspect of the world we live in.

Despite their best efforts, however, time remains elusive.

In our everyday lives, we all experience the ability to move in the three physical dimensions. We all experience variations in speed of movement. We all experience the effect of gravity. Most of us are impacted by light and sound. Science has given us the ability to manipulate all of these elements – all except time. Even if blind, deaf and standing still, we all experience the passage of time. We ride the wave of time, with no control over it. We cannot delay it or accelerate it. We cannot reverse it.

As science continues to explore the elements of our world, one thing stands out – everything seems to have a connection to time.

We measure the speed of movement through physical space as the distance traveled in a fixed period of time. We calculate the distance to a distant star as the physical distance traveled by a lightwave in a year. That same year is defined as the time it takes for our earth to travel once around the sun. We break that year into arbitrary segments of months, weeks, days, hours, minutes, and seconds – all measurements of the flow of that intangible thing we call time.

We calculate the decay of a radioactive element by the time interval required for the number of disintegrations per second to decrease by one-half. We judge the chemical changes of corrosion by the time required for that change to happen.

We record a lifespan, including our own, as the time it takes to age into death or disintegration.

Time, it seems, is the most fundamental function of the universe. It is the foundation of all that exists, yet we have no control over it. We have no means of manipulating it. We have no understanding of it beyond the day-to-day experience we have in using it as a unit of measurement.

As we continue to unwrap the cloak of secrecy that conceals the mysteries of our existence, time it seems, is off-limits. Perhaps time is the one secret that God chooses to keep to Himself. Perhaps time is the unknowable substance that defines God.

 

The Alpha and the Omega

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(The following is an excerpt from the book “Finding Faith in a Logical World.”)

The idea that there is an entity that has an infinite existence is contrary to our human experience and is therefore, in conflict with our logical learning. After all, we all have experience with the beginning and end of a lifespan. Our grandparents or great-grandparents were born, lived a life span and died, even if we were not direct witnesses to those events. We know when we get that new puppy, that he will not live beyond so many years. Each year, each season, each day has a beginning and an end. It is the nature of the world as we know it. How then can we believe in a God who has no beginning and no end?

We do, in fact, have personal experience with that concept, although most of us have never thought to apply it to the existence of God. It’s called the circle.

If we use a compass to draw a circle on a piece of paper, there is, of course, a beginning point. Once that circle is drawn, however, there is no clear beginning or ending point. The orbits of the planets have no beginning and no end. The rotation of the earth has no beginning and no end. In fact, any circular object, design or orbit could be described the same way. What’s more, it seems to be a fundamental aspect in nature. Electrons orbit the nucleus of the atom. The walls of living cells have no distinct beginning or end. The rotation of each star, planet, moon – even entire galaxies. No beginning. No end.

Who is to say that time – one of the most common, yet elusive of concepts – cannot claim no beginning, no end. Science attempts to identify the beginning of the universe as that moment they describe as the “big bang.” Even if their speculation is correct, what was the moment before that event? How many moments existed before that event? Try to wrap your head around that one. There is only one answer – infinity. No beginning, no end.

Finding Hope – Finding Faith

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Most of us spend our lives flipping a coin to decide between equally balanced possibilities. Oh, maybe not so much a real coin, but some of the choices we make might as well be decided in such a fashion. This is especially true when it comes to our position on spiritual matters.

Does God exist, or are we all the beneficiaries of some lucky cosmic accident? Flip a coin.

Were Adam and Eve truly the first human beings. or is that just a fable? Flip a coin.

Was Jesus actually resurrected, or was that just a story? Flip a coin.

To further compound the questions is the desire that we all have that the answers correspond to what we see as in our best interest. We hope that the Bible stories are true. We hope that we continue to exist after physical death. We hope that there is a heavenly home that awaits us.

With all this hoping and wishing, and yearning, we miss one important truth. Hope and faith are two sides of the same coin. They are in fact, complementary companions of the same human quest.

Hope is, after all, wishful thinking. It is envisioning an outcome that we would like to achieve or like to see accomplished. We hope that a loved one recovers from a serious illness. We hope that one day, we might win that big lottery jackpot. We hope that our spiritual beliefs are correct and strong enough to carry us through to a heavenly reward.

The flip side of that coin is faith. Faith is a step beyond hope. Faith is not just believing – it is knowing. Faith is trusting that what is in our best interests will come about, even if it doesn’t exactly match our wish list.

Hope can energize our faith, while faith can provide a secure foundation for our hopes.

It is an inexplicable dance as the two sides of the coins spin endlessly throughout our lives. Each side supports the other, and when one side appears to be weakening, we need only flip to the other side to find the power to reinforce our ability to survive and thrive.

There are those moments in life when it seems all hope is lost.

That is when it is time to flip that coin and bring faith into the light. And if we have built a stong foundation of faith, hope is restored – knowing that all will be as it should for our ultimate benefit.

Makes You Stronger

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There is a common expression – “whatever doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.” The origin of this expression can be traced back to 19th-century German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche who wrote “Out of life’s school of war—what doesn’t kill me, makes me stronger.” That simple, yet profound thought has been tweaked, modified, and appropriated by various platforms over the years for good reason.

It is a real-life observation of one of life’s greatest resources.

Another similar catchphrase is “no pain, no gain.” You might hear that referencing physical conditioning or sports training. The foundation of either of those expressions is the same – an affirmation or acknowledgment of the positive impact of a stressful experience on future events. In short, surviving a stressful experience builds a resilience, much like an illness can help the body develop a tolerance that would prevent a future ailment. Just as importantly, surviving that stressful moment gives us the tools to be the support for the next person as they struggle.

So, what has this to do with faith? Much more than you might imagine. In fact, these experiences can provide another element of proof of Devine planning. Continue reading →