2 It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place.
3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 5 He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. 6 After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. 1 Corinthians 15:2-7 NLT
Once again this year, Happy Resurrection Sunday to all my single Christian sisters and brothers!
We followers of Jesus celebrate Resurrection Sunday, AKA Easter, because it the day Jesus rose from the dead.
I love that meme that someone made using a painting of Jesus stepping out of the tomb. At the top, it says YOLO. At the bottom, it says, “Just kidding.” I love it, not only because it has a humorous slant to a biblical truth, but because it is a biblical truth, an outcome that depended on a promise.
We are used to people around us not keeping promises: spouses who leave our marriages, parents who die too early in life, bosses who act like they’re taking our suggestions and project work seriously, pastors who fall into sin, and, most infamously, politicians.
You can’t trust a promise someone makes while they’re drunk, in love, hungry, or running for office. Joe Moore
God is different about His promises than we are about ours. He keeps His promises.
It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath. Aeschylus
One of the biggest promises Jesus ever made was that He was going to rise from the dead after He was executed for our sins. Do you remember these conversations in the Bible?
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26 (emphasis mine).
“No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. 19 Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. 20 When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you (emphasis mine)” NLT John 14:18-20.
Jesus not only died for our sins, but rose for our life.
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more [certain], now that we are reconciled, that we shall be saved (daily delivered from sin’s dominion) through His [resurrection] life (emphasis mine). Romans 5:11 AMPC
11 The Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead. If the same Holy Spirit lives in you, He will give life to your bodies in the same way (emphasis mine). Romans 8:11 NLV
We can rejoice that He kept those promises. He had—and still has—the character, 
love, authority, and power to keep His promises. Remember when He said, “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again; this charge I have received from my Father” John 10:18 (RSV)?
I believe in the sacredness of a promise, that a man’s word should be as good as his bond; that character–not wealth or power or position–is of supreme worth. J.D. Rockefeller
I can’t make myself rise from the dead (Monday mornings don’t count!), can you? So when we understand that He kept those promises, we can joyfully surmise that He is going to keep the rest of His promises.
Are there some promises, Christ’s single, that you are hanging onto for dear life, but you haven’t seen any action on them yet?
Maybe you thought you would be married by now.
Perhaps you’re slaving away in a job you can’t stand, and you’ ve been looking for and waiting for the perfect opportunity to change jobs or promote.
Possibly you have been trying to pray away a medical condition you or a loved one has, and it’s not getting better. In fact, it may be getting worse.
Whatever your unanswered prayer or promise is, here are 8 ways to bring the reality of the resurrection into your life.
1) Sing, praise, and worship because of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus, 
all throughout the year, not just today. Let His resurrection infuse you with joy, life, and light.
2) Read and re-read the story of Jesus’ trial, cruxifixion, and resurrection in His Word all throughout the year, and not just during Lent, Passion Week, or Easter Sunday. Read it out loud, in different versions, or listen to recorded versions. Read about the last days of Jesus’ life in a harmony of the gospels.
3) Watch The Passion of the Christ or other movie focusing on Christ and His last days on earth.
4) If you don’t have specific scripture to go with your desires, ponder what principles from His Word might apply to your situation and desires. Remember not take scripture promises out of context to suit your flesh or your desires.
5) Remember: “No” or “Wait” are also answers to prayer. I don’t like them, either, but sometimes He has already answered a prayer or fulfilled a promise in a way we weren’t looking for, or don’t like. But those responses are just as valid as a “Yes.”
6) Review your history with God of His answered prayers and rejoice.
7) Review the answered prayers of others, including current, historically, and Biblically, and rejoice.
8) Finally, focus on the reality that Jesus is alive right now, this very moment, that He loves you very much, and He is coming back to make good on the last of His promises.
Let God’s promises shine on your problems. Corrie Ten Boom
God’s promises are like the stars; the darker the night, the brighter they shine. Dr. David Nicholas
The Lord is risen.
He is risen, indeed!
Please look for me on Face Book at “For single Christians: One is a Whole Number.” Be sure to Like and Share the page and anything you find helpful and inspiring.
