1 Corinthians 15:14,17-19 “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain....And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.”

Jet engines are wonderful examples of engineering; such a simple idea with such a complex method of achieving the goal (or rather, thrust). To attain movement, the engine draws or sucks in air, which it then compresses or squeezes. Then the air is heated up and with the addition of fuel, is burned. Due to this increase in heat, the air expands rapidly, blowing out the exhaust nozzle at a tremendous speed, propelling the airplane forward. However, to get this process requires numerous highly machined blades, exquisitely designed gears and shafts, tediously installed fuel lines and nozzles, and meticulously balanced aerodynamic loads. If any one part fails, the whole machine fails (usually with dramatic results). It is the same with Christianity. If any one part is false, the whole thing is worthless. If the cornerstone fails, the building falls.

Talking to an atheist with whom I work, he made the comment that you can't scientifically prove the resurrection of Jesus. Josh McDowell in his book More than a Carpenter addresses this very well. He says that science (well, the scientific method) can only prove events or hypotheses that are repeatable. One time events can not be proved through the scientific method. How then can we repeat Christ's death and resurrection to prove that it happened? We can not! That leaves us with either it happened or it didn't happen. We can try and prove that it did happen, or we can try and prove (archaeologically and historically) that it didn't. To prove that it did happen means that we need to prove every detail starting with His birth, His life, His ministry, His betrayal and capture, His death sentence, His entombment, the broken stone, the appearing to believers, and finally His ascension. To disprove it, all we need to do is find one problem, one fault, and everything would fly to pieces. Which is easier?

C.S. Lewis posed his famous trilemma, “Is He (Jesus) a liar, a lunatic, or Lord?” If He was not the son of God, born to a virgin, He must be a liar. If He did not rise from the dead, He was a misguided lunatic. If we can not find any faults, any problems then He must be what He said He was, Lord. So far no one has ever proven any part of the Bible wrong! Since this is so, Christ must be Lord and He did rise from the dead, paying the redemption price for all of us.

With this, how can we not live as best as we can? How can we not try and emulate our Saviour in His life? How can we deny Him anything He asks of us? We may not be perfect, but we can thank God anyways for sending Jesus and forgiving us. Let us follow Paul's advice in 1 Corinthians 15:34 “Wake up ... and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God.”

He is Risen!

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the o'er whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.