Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

7 May 2025

Reading From Luke 24:1-35

“On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?”

“In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive.”

—Luke 24:1-5, 22-23

The Law of Moses commanded the Israelites to fashion the Tabernacle so that they would have a mobile house of worship and the localized Presence of God would dwell in the middle of their camp during the Exodus and in the Promised Land of Canaan. In the Holy of Holies rested the Ark of the Covenant, an exquisite, gold-overlaid container which contained the stone tablets from Sinai, a pot of manna, and Aaron’s staff that budded. These invaluable relics symbolized the Law and the Prophets that Jesus, the “Living Bread” fulfilled.

On top of the Ark, also called the Mercy Seat, were two golden angels, called Cherubim, each with their wings outstretched toward one another, looking down at the Ark. On the Day of Atonement, the High Priest would make the sacrifice and sprinkle the blood on the Mercy Seat, with the Cherubim “observing.” When Jesus was resurrected, two angels appeared in the garden tomb, one at where His head had rested and one at His feet. They witnessed that His blood had been shed, ultimate atonement had been made, and sin and death were conquered once and for all.

Romans 6:23 tells us that, “The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” In the Old Covenant sacrificial system, the blood of animals was shed to cover sins, but this did not cleanse us in the same way that faith, repentance and confession in the ultimate sacrifice of the Lamb of God cleanses us today. His was the better, new and everlasting covenant because He was fully man and fully God, which enabled Him to take humanity’s sins upon Himself, even though He was perfect and sinless in every way.

“Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins and confess that You are God. Please forgive me of my sins and make me a new person. Dwell within my heart, write my name in the Lamb’s Book of Life and guide and empower me with Your Holy Spirit to lead a life that pleases and honors You. Thank You Lord for dying in my place and conquering sin and death on the cross and the empty garden tomb. I am grateful that You gave adopted me into Your eternal family. Reveal to me my true identity, sense of belonging, and eternal destiny in You. I receive Your forgiveness and gift of salvation in the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.”

He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.—Luke 24:25-27