Have you ever seen the movie Inside Out?
If not, stop what you’re doing, go watch it, then come back and finish reading this blog.
Go ahead.
I’ll wait.
….
Awesome. Welcome back.
I l.o.v.e. that movie. So so much. It’s funny. It makes me feel good. And there’s finally an animated character other than Pocahontas that I can relate to. Her name is Sadness.
Sadness is…well…sad. She likes to point out the dread in everything. She makes the other emotions aware of the worst case scenario in an attempt to be helpful throughout their shenanigans.
One of my favorites to illustrate the point even further:
Sadness: It’s long-term memory…you’ll get lost in there!
Joy: C’mon! Think positive!
Sadness: Okay…I’m positive you’ll get lost in there!
I’ve been known to say very similar things in my lifetime.
ANYWAYS.
I can be like Sadness sometimes. I have this superpower of always being able to play out the worst case scenario, no matter the situation, in about .41 seconds.
It’s a gift, I tell ya.
But recently I’ve been thinking a lot more about what my actual worst case scenario is.
God originally planted this little whisper in my ear about a year ago, but He has been speaking it louder and louder over the past few weeks.
And here it is:
In Christ, my worst case scenario is redemption and resurrection in to new life.
That’s it.
The worst thing that could actually happen to me is new life.
Redemption.
Resurrection.
Eternity with the One who created me, sustains me, and loves me with a steadfast, everlasting love.
This doesn’t mean that I won’t feel the effects of sin and brokenness in our world.
I do feel them.
I feel them for myself.
I feel them for others.
I/we experience that which we were not originally meant to experience: death.
But.
Guess what comes after death.
Resurrection.
New life.
Complete wholeness, the way it was meant to be.
This Holy Week, in reading through the multiple accounts of Jesus the Christ’s death, it’s clear that He dies.
He has to.
When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
John 19:30
When he cried out “it is finished” on the cross, the Greek word is “tetelestai” – literally meaning to bring to a close, to complete, to fulfill.
The Savior of the world declared it was finished and gave up his spirit.
He declared the reign of darkness had ended.
Light has come.
His complete work had been accomplished.
And he died.
But…Sunday is coming.
Resurrection is His.
New life belongs to those that are in Him.
In Christ, my worst case scenario is redemption and resurrection in to new life.
Kayla Smith 