“In the city of Hanover is a graveyard which has been closed for a number of years—the Garden Churchyard. Owing to its antiquated monuments and the fact of its being the resting place of a number of celebrated characters, it awakens the liveliest curiosity. A few paces east of the unassuming little church in the graveyard is a monument tottering from its foundation. It is built in the form of steps, and the massive stones are secured by heavy iron clasps. The monument was erected in the year 1782.
"Beside the usual family inscriptions, at the base of the monument are engraved these arrogant lines: “The sepulchre, purchased for all eternity, is not permitted to be opened.” Opposed to this determination of man, a beech seed, perhaps carried by the wind, found its way into a crevice of the foundation. In the course of years this little seed grew to be a strong, luxuriant tree, mocked the proud inscription of the monument, raised the massive stones from their foundation, and rent the strong iron clasp asunder. This open grave reminds the visitor of the mutability of earthly scenes, and the fallacy of man’s resolution to project plans to last for “all eternity.”*
The grave was intended by the Adversary of humanity to be our tomb for all eternity. Aided by sin and death, he held all the sons and daughters of Adam captive in the realm of the dead. But God had other plans. Not unlike the beech seed in the story above, God raised up a shoot from the stem of Jesse (Isa. 11:1,10; Rom. 15:12) Who would shatter Satan’s death grip into a million pieces. By the power of God, the tomb couldn’t hold the Messiah. That same power sets the believer in Him free from the law of sin and death as well (Rom. 8:2; 1 Cor. 15:55-57). Praise God for His resurrection power! The grave cannot imprison us!
God loves you!
Mike
*Dictionary of Anecdote, Incident, Illustrative Fact, Selected and Arranged for the Pulpit and the Platform, Walter Baxendale
No comments:
Post a Comment