Change Of Address
Where you end up depends on where you're headed.
AUDIO VERSION OF ARTICLE BELOW
I used to get the following questions, in one variation or another, from many folks who heard just how many times my family and I moved during my growing-up and formative years: “Were your parents missionaries?” or “Were either of your parents in the military?” The fact is, it was neither one of those.
Truthfully, I can’t really say why we moved around so much. But if I had to guess, it was because my parents always tried to give my sisters and me what they thought was best for us. Yet with each move came new schools, new neighborhoods, new churches, new surroundings, and new friends.
But anyone who has ever moved—even just once—knows that with every change of location comes a change of address. And that means filing a change of address with your local Post Office.
I can still remember for weeks getting mail with those little yellow stickers that read something along these lines: FORWARD TO NEW ADDRESS. And with that, our mail was sent to our new domicile. It wouldn’t take too long for those envelopes with yellow stickers to taper off, and eventually all of our mail would be delivered to the place we now called home.
It’s been over two decades since I’ve seen a yellow “forward to new address” sticker on any of my mail, simply because I haven’t moved in so long. But should the day come when my wife and I decide to move elsewhere, we will—like everyone else, and as my parents did so many times before—have to file a change of address with the post office. And why is that? Well, truthfully, if I want my mail delivered to the right house, it’s up to me to fill out the necessary paperwork to make that happen.
That simple picture has stayed with me. And on this Resurrection Sunday, I can’t help but think about how many people still need to file a change of address.
On Friday we celebrated Good Friday. And make no mistake—the Crucifixion of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is one of the most glorious realities in all of our faith. What happened at the cross was not small or merely symbolic. It was the sinless Son of God laying down His life for sinners. Can I get an amen to that!?!
Now, when it comes to the shedding of Christ’s blood, we immediately think of the cross. We think of songs like “Nothing But The Blood” and “There Is A Fountain Filled With Blood.” Yet we rarely stop to think—present company included—that the shedding of the blood of our Savior began long before the cross on Golgotha.
It was in the Garden that the Word of God tells us in Luke 22:44:
“And being in agony [deeply distressed and anguished; almost to the point of death], He prayed more intently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down on the ground.” (AMP)
Our Jesus experienced such deep anguish in prayer that His very sweat became like drops of blood. Imagine that—Jesus was already bleeding before a single spike was ever driven through His hands or feet. What His body was experiencing is known as Hematidrosis, which many Bible footnotes describe as “a potentially life-threatening physical response to extreme physical or mental stress.” Our Lord knew exactly what the road to the cross awaited Him. He knew that He would soon be bearing the sins of the world—past, present, and future—and the curse of death upon Himself.
Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:21:
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (NKJV)
Jesus, who knew no sin, who was perfection incarnate, took our sin upon Himself. He took our place. He suffered in our stead. He became the One and Only perfect atoning sacrifice that forever washed away the sins of the world. The road to Calvary is blood-stained from the Garden of Gethsemane all the way to the cross. It’s a blood-stained map that leads the seeking soul to the only treasure whose worth is beyond measure.
τετέλεσται ←What does it mean?
For those of us who are not Greek scholars—or don’t speak or read Greek at all—that word might not have any meaning at first glance. But what’s encapsulated in that single word carries eternal weight, especially when it comes to filing a change of address. In English, it’s translated as “It Is Finished!” Those three words might not mean much to the passerby or the proud. But to the one who’s seeking to file a change of address, those three words changed everything—not just then, but throughout the ages.
The Bible tells us in John 19:30:
“So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.” (NKJV)
Jesus finished the work of redemption on the cross. The debt of sin was paid. The price was met in full. But here’s what I want you to see—as glorious as all of this is, it’s still not the greatest part of the story.
Let me give you a real-life example. Imagine someone is being held hostage, and the only way they can be released is if a ransom is paid. Now, let’s say the ransom was paid in full—but the hostage was never released. If the captive never walks out alive, then the payment, as real as it was, did not accomplish its final purpose. Can you see it? Jesus’ death on the cross was the necessary payment for sin and the curse of death. But the payment alone is not the end of the story.
It’s Friday, but Sunday’s coming!
And family, let me tell you—what a glorious day Sunday is! Our captor called ‘sin’ and ‘death’ asked for a ransom that none of us could pay. The price was so high that nothing could satisfy it except perfection. And perfection came in the person of Jesus Christ.
The resurrection is the greatest miracle in all of human history!
The resurrection is the public, victorious proof that sin was paid for, death was defeated, and the captive can now go free. Without the resurrection, all we would have is a tragic sacrifice and an unanswered question. Salvation wouldn’t exist. But the resurrection declares that the work was accepted, completed, and victorious! Jesus not only gave up His spirit—He took up His life again as well. Look at what He said in John 10:17–18:
“Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”
Jesus is not saying He raised Himself apart from the Father and the Holy Spirit. Scripture makes it clear that the Father raised Him, and that the Holy Spirit was active as well. But here in John 10, Jesus is plainly saying that He had the divine authority both to lay down His life and to take it up again. In other words, the resurrection was not something that merely happened to Him. He had power in it. And that says everything about who He is—our Savior and resurrected Lord!
Now let me tie this all together.
Eternity is a long time. To paint a picture of what it looks like, imagine yourself standing on the shore of the ocean with a medicine dropper in your hand, counting every single drop of water one by one. Then imagine doing that again and again until you’d finally drained every ocean and body of water on earth. That still wouldn’t account for even one second of eternity. Eternity is truly forever.
You and I are eternal beings. Once our bodies cease from functioning, we step into eternity—and there are only two addresses: heaven or hell. That’s it.
This is exactly why the resurrection of Jesus Christ matters so much. Because Jesus beat sin and death, every person now has the opportunity to “file for a change of address.” For those who call on His name, repent of their sins, and ask Him to be their Lord and Savior, your change of address is filed with God the Father—and your eternal address is guaranteed to be in His presence for all of eternity.
Jesus said in John 14:6:
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (NKJV)
The cross said it is finished—the empty tomb said it is accepted. And that is the full picture of your redemption!
So don’t let this glor ious day pass you by without calling on the name of Jesus Christ, asking Him to forgive you and be the Lord of your life.
He is risen — He is risen indeed!
Happy Resurrection Sunday!
Grateful you’re here.
— Pablo
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Amen my brother. Love ya, He is risen indeed