SHAKE ME OFF; I STILL HAVE WINGS!”

I have found the following short story from a book, and I believe this is an awesome story that tells all about Easter and how we should live with the faith of the resurrection in this time of fear and uncertainty:
In the midst of a storm, a little bird was clinging to the limb of a tree, seemingly calm and unafraid. As the wind tore at the limbs of the tree, the bird continued to look the storm in the face, as if to say, “Shake me off; I still have wings!”
During the last month, we were all saddened by the two tragic high school shootings, which happened near San Diego. Regardless of the circumstances, these tragedies show the ugly face of the world today, full of hatred, alienation, and vengeance. People are being forced to react with extreme means in order to resolve their own problems. One possible result of this kind of reaction is shooting rampages to kill or harm people. They believe “death” would be the final answer for everything.
Death. Most human beings fear death. Throughout these incidents I believe our God is still at work. Maybe these sudden sufferings could be too much to bear for the families involved. However, God works everything for good, and He teaches us that we humans are limited and powerless before His presence. For Christians, death is only a process in terms of eternity, for Christ had victory over death.
Jesus Christ says, “… I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die…” (John 11:25-26) Apostle Paul also affirms, that “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:22).
Therefore, because of Christ’s resurrection, each Christian can look the experience of death in the face and confidently say, “Shake me off; I still have wings! I’ll live anyway.” This is our faith of the resurrection, our hope being alive in Christ, and our victory over sins and death.
On March 15th we witnessed and celebrated the life of our dear brother Dick Scheetz. Before he passed away, he had managed to call Allyn Dee Reed to ask for the special music for his funeral service! One of the two hymns was “He Lives,” and this song not only shows his strong confidence in the Eternal Life through the Risen Christ but also inspires all of us to live a heavenly life in this mortal world, like the little bird saying “shake me off; I still have wings!”
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.

Jesus Christ is risen, indeed! Love and blessings to you all.

Pastor J. T. Kim





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