In
1999 I read a book by Max Lucado called, “He Still Moves Stones.” This book helped me understand the freedom of
living in Christ and I recommend that you read it too. The following is a composition I wrote after
reading the book. Let it be, if you
will, a glimpse of just what Max Lucado wrote about. Read this article and then go pick up a copy
of his book, “He Still Moves Stones.”
“But on the first day
of the week, at early dawn, the women went to the tomb, taking the spices which
they had made ready and they found the stone rolled back from the tomb. But when they went inside, they did not find
the body of the Lord Jesus. And while
they were perplexed and wondering what to do about his, behold, two men in
dazzling raiment suddenly stood beside them.
And as the women were frightened and were bowing their faces to the
ground, the men said to them: Why do you
look for the living among those who are dead?
He is not here, but has risen.”
–Luke 24:1-6a (AMP)
They
found the stone rolled back. Why was it
moved? Did Jesus need it moved to get
out of the tomb? No. Later He appeared in their midst, with all
the doors being shut (John 20:19) so He did not need the stone moved to get
out. Why was the stone moved? It was moved for the women and the
disciples. It was moved so they could enter
and see that indeed, death could not hold Him!
Did
you know that He still moves the stone today?
An
old man who professed to be an atheist used to berate his neighbor for
believing that “God stuff”. As he lay in
a hospital bed gravely ill his neighbor visited and prayed for him. He was well in hours. The old man realized that the “God stuff” was
real. Jesus moved the stone of unbelief.
A
woman went to church every week, gave ten percent of her income, sang in the
choir, and helped at all the functions.
When she was at home it was a different matter. Heaviness weighed down her heart. She spent hours sitting and staring at the
television, not really seeing what was on it.
Nothing mattered since her husband died.
One morning she woke up with the hymn “It Is Well With My Soul”
resounding in her mind. It rang again
and again in her heart all day long. She
finally fell to her knees and reached out with her heart to her Heavenly
Father. Jesus moved the stone of self
pity.
A
young man spent the day in the mountains hiking. He always felt closer to Jesus there. There were no interruptions for his beeper or
cell phone to disturb his thoughts. He
used to be so on fire for God when he was a senior in High School. As he asked God what happened he was filled
with such an awareness of God’s Presence he sat in speechless awe and knew that
what had suffered was his regular times with Him. He asked Jesus to forgive him. Jesus moved the stone of busyness.
Do
you have a stone that needs to be moved today?
Do you need to see that death cannot hold back Jesus in your life? Look to the Mover of the stone. He is ready to move it today.
