This time of year reminds me of the incredible privilege VCN has in serving local churches so that the good news of a risen Savior can be faithfully proclaimed. Amid such uncertainty in our national landscape (from the weather, politics, financial markets, etc.), we’ve never needed the clarity of the gospel more. The uncertainty and polarization of our world can be overwhelming, shading us from the hope we have to offer our communities.

The gospel story reminds us that Christ has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins… in Him, all things hold together… in Him, all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things… making peace by the blood of His cross… not shifting from the hope of the gospel.” (Col 1:12–23)

Jesus bore our sins on the cross and three days later rose from the dead so that He might redeem and restore and make new. That’s the hope your community needs to hear and the model your community needs to see: grace entering into the darkness and brokenness of people’s lives so that by your presence, by your good news, you can give them something that no politician or financial guru, counselor or public policy (as well-meaning as all of that may be), can provide.

Amid the uncertainty of our current cultural moment, we have a Lord in whom “all things hold together.” In a time of so much polarization and anger, we have the promise and hope that He will “reconcile to Himself all things… making peace by the blood of His cross.” Christ’s death and resurrection make that reality and give us hope.

The late Tim Keller’s words ring true and are a timely reminder that, as believers, we don’t serve a dead teacher. Rather, we serve a Living Lord—not a “theoretical” lord who is part of an impersonal “universe,” but one who is ever present with us, who will never leave or forsake us, and whose Spirit binds us together with other believers around the globe. We don’t need to live and minister in fear… we have Christ.

With all that is going on as you prepare for Easter Sunday and Holy Week, give serious consideration that we don’t let the event of Easter weekend in our church get in the way of the event of the Resurrection that took place in time and place. We serve a resurrected, risen Lord whose Spirit binds us together across time, distance, or any other challenge we may face while on this earth. Our hope, after all, is in Christ and His Kingdom to come, secured by His payment for our sins and resurrection. No uncertainty there!