Do you ever have days you would rather forget? You know, the ones that seem to be headed downhill from the time you roll out of bed. The thought of a button that wipes the memory of regret, failure, and disappointment is quite appealing on those days. While memory swipes are not realistic fresh starts are.

At Calvary, Christ paid the price our sin debt required in horrific fashion. Pronounced dead, His lifeless body, broken and beaten for us, was pulled from the cross and placed behind a massive stone inside a borrowed tomb. But Christ, who was thought to be overcome by death, rolled away the stone meant to keep Him from life. In doing so, He conquered death and made a way for all who trust in Him to be granted eternal life. The power of Christ's death is sufficient to secure the pardon of sin and His resurrection affords new life now and forever.

This same power that rolled away the stone and raised Christ from the dead is effectual for living renewal. Yes, it secures eternal salvation futuristically but it holds the power for current victory over that which ensnares us today. Fresh starts come on the back side of us laying down what holds us back and allowing ourselves to be raised up to what lies ahead.

As the end of Holy week draws near we intently gaze upon the cross and the tomb. May we look to the cross and lay down our sin and unbelief. May we come to the tomb and see, that while we can't erase the past, He can roll away our guilt and shame both now and forevermore.

"They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. So they went in, but they didn't find the body of the Lord Jesus." Luke 24:2-3

"O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:55–57

- Micah McElveen