Creation brings an offering
As autumn leaves turn to gold
The trees bow down in highest praise
Now made bare before Your throne

The western sky an amber blaze
At the end of the day
For everything must die to rise again

The winters chill, a bitter cold
As sin and shame leave us to fall
The clouds now full of newborn snow
For grace to come and save us all

Within the darkest night of man
Was found Your saving hand
For everything must die to rise again

On the third day behold the King
On the third day death has no sting
On the third day we’re forgiven and reconciled

The earth it groans in labor pains
As flowers stretch to heaven above
Your creatures sing the prophets song
To be a gift of selfless love

The sun is rising in the east
And Your Spirit is unleashed
For everything must die to rise again

On the third day behold the King
On the third day death has no sting
On the third day we’re forgiven and reconciled

And so we wait in joyful hope
For You to come and take us home
And so we join beneath the cross
In suffering from whence we go

The greatest act of sovereign grace
In the universe displayed
For everything must die to rise again

On the third day behold the King
On the third day death has no sting
On the third day we’re forgiven and reconciled

On the third day the saints rejoice
On the third day we lift our voice
On the third day we’re united and glorified

And everything must die to rise again

Back in Easter of 2008 I was traveling from my parent’s home to my condo (a five minute commute) when I first heard this song on the radio. I didn’t catch the name or the artist so I ended up e-mailing the radio station. They replied to me the next day and I instantly downloaded it and it has become a favorite, especially this time of year. The entire part of the song is very touching. But the line that keeps repeating over and over again – And everything must die to rise again. That’s a tough line to really focus on when we think about dreams dying, plans failing, hopes diminishing and even worse to think about losing loved ones to death. But in order to experience new hope, new dreams, new life – the old must die.

We read in Luke Chapter 24, verses 46 & 47, He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. In order for us to have new life, our Savior had to give us His own. Because of His death and resurrection we have forgiveness of our sins and eternal life with Him. What comfort and hope that brings us. We are also reminded in 2 Corinthians 5:17, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! We have to experience the pain, the heartache, the loss, and the disappointment in order to get to the good, the extraordinary, truly better than we ever anticipated. God is so very good friends, let us rejoice this Easter that Jesus rose on the third day and we’ll be united and gloried with Him.

Prayer

King of All Kings, we come to You completely humbled and thankful. You gave us Your most precious gift, Your son, Jesus Christ. We rejoice in the fact that death has no sting and we’ll be united and gloried with You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.