Do we actually believe?

[A Resurrection themed reflection by new All4God contributor Jason Irwin]

How often do we approach Easter with a passé attitude? Oh yeah Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection…that was cool eh? Do we actually realise what we say?
Do we actually believe what we say we believe?
Do we actually believe Jesus, the Son of God (do we even believe that!), was crucified, hung on a tree, mocked, flogged and insulted?
Do we actually believe that He took on our sins-past, present + future-and died to save us?!
Do we actually believe that He rose again 3 days later? That He died and then lived?
Because if we do believe this how are we not constantly just praising God?! How do we get scared to speak about our saviour in front of non-Christians? Why do we continually let the menial worries of life get us down if with Christ we will be raised up to Glory?!!!
Let us look afresh at the hope we have stored up for us in heaven-
Revelation 21:1-6
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.
Also something else I was really encouraged by in the resurrection story was when Jesus appeared to the disciples and said, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” (Luke 24:38-39). It’s really encouraging to see that those who lived with Jesus also sometimes had doubts. I sometimes think, maybe if I had just been there with Jesus then I wouldn’t have anymore doubts or then I would have more faith etc. But it seems that this wouldn’t be necessarily true! So take heart when those doubts arise, we are just like the early believers but what’s more we are blessed – John 20:29 ^–Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”