It just dawned on me that I have been in a stupor. Know what that means? A stupor is a state in which the mind and senses are partially or completely dulled—a state of apathy. Sounds serious, doesn’t it? Well it is. It is the condition I find myself in over the state of our nation and the perplexing problems that have our political leaders baffled. There’s our failing economy, our growing debt, our stressed relationships around the world, the turmoil within our own borders, not to mention the price of gasoline. Since it’s too depressing to think about, I find myself wanting to bury my head in the sand.

Even closer to home is the fact that I have also been lulled into a stupor by sin’s consequences on my spiritual well-being. For years my besetting sins have lured me into thinking I will never conquer them. I have become lazy in my worship and seeking the face of God. Busy-work compels me to get-er-done rather than spending time in prayer. Complacency has hypnotized me into believing I will never be what God wants me to be. I have failed so many times, and now I feel that I am too old to be of any use to God whatsoever. All opportunities have slipped through my hands. Besides, I will never be able to stay in close relationship with God, so why try. I have lost so many battles that I nearly concede that I have lost the war.

But wait a minute! Is this not the Easter season? Is this not what Christ’s resurrection is all about—raising people from the dead? Those who are dead in trespasses and sin? Those who have given in and given up on ever being free from Satan’s cruel grasp upon their lives? Those whose hope has taken a leave of absence?

The message of Easter is one of hope because Jesus overcame death, hell, and the grave! All of us were once dead in our sins, dwelling in a living hell, and bound by grave clothes. Satan wants to keep us there as long as he can, and if we ever get free, he will work diligently to bring us back to that same place. Those of us who find ourselves in bondage to Satan’s tricks and lies over and over must take the first step to rise up out of our stupor and move toward the Living Savior. We must refuse to live a defeated life. Just as we took that very first step to accept Christ as Savior-Redeemer, we must take many more steps toward Him as our Rescuer-Restorer. It is an on-going lifetime process of being rescued from Satan’s attempts to pull us back into his grasp. Jesus has plainly said that no one can snatch us out of His Father’s hand! (John 10:29)

You and I are worth something to God! After all, He paid a very high price for us. He is waiting for you and me to cry out to Him. It’s time to hear the Savior calling us to get up and out of that stupor. He has given us power over all the forces of the enemy, but if we do not claim that power it will do us no good. How do we claim that power? We have to turn on the engine of our faith through time with God—prayer, praise, worship and intimate fellowship with Him. It matters not how much horsepower is under the hood of our car unless we start the engine!

God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). The only thing we can agree with Satan on is that we are nothing, worthless, and of no use to God, except for the fact that we have been resurrected to a new life in Christ Jesus. It is no longer you and I that live, but Christ who lives in us! Remember, this Resurrected Christ who now lives in us didn’t lose the battle or the war. Next time, we will talk about having our own personal resurrection. It’s not too late! ~Janie Kellogg