Taiwan Church News

3292 Edition

March 30 - April 5, 2015

Editorial

The Only Way To Resurrection

Resurrection is a classic novel written by renown Russian writer Leo Tolstoy. Except criticizing contemporary social institutes and establishment, Tolstoy investigatedthe problems related to morals and ethics in this novel. This is a story about Dimitri Ivanovich Nekhlydov, a nobleman and the protagonist in Resurrection, struggling to compensate for what he had done wrong toward a maid named Katyusha Maslova. During Nekhlydov's rescue of Maslova, he personally witnessed the social corruption and darkness which awakened him from his slumber toward the invisible injustices lying around. Finally, Nekhlydov made it to receive the clemency from the emperor to set Maslova free.

As it is indicated in the 167th edition of Wilderness magazine, if contemporary Russian social atmosphere in Resurrection is a dark night, then what Nekhlydov did inhis redemptive behavior is the bright light within darkness. This proves that his life has been resurrected from death. Instead of running away, Nekhlydov chose to face the mistakes he had done causing a series of miseries in the life of Maslova. Of course, on the one hand, Kekhlydov could choose to run off and get away from many troubles when the things just broke out; the sense of guilt like a nightmare will chase after him for his whole life. In the other hand, if Nekhlydov chose to take his responsibility for all the incurred miseries toward Maslova, then his mind will get true delivery and freedom like a man born again from sin and death, even though he has to pay the price for sure. And this motif of redemption is what Tolstoy want to express through the characters of his novel: Salvation starts from reflection, and a sincere confession of sin can enable a resurrection of our life.

Based on the scriptures said in Rome 4:17, "...(I have made thee a father of many nations), before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were before him...", and in Luke 9:60 "Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the Kingdom of God", what does it mean for Jesus' resurrection at this moment of Easter? As all the money and power of this world will pass away, just the dead bury their dead. Only justice and love would become the marks of resurrection enabling us to overcome the power of misery and injustice!

Do you believe Jesus is resurrected? When that day of the Lord comes, all the money and power will pass away as useless and everyone will get her just trial. Only athorough repent and change is the only way to resurrection!