3 Mindset Changes that Change Everything

The resurrection changes everything for our life after death, but it also changes everything for our life now.

Why, then, is so much in our lives unchanged? 

We are disappointed with the results of the resurrection and with God because we’re prone to twist our faith into something that is short-sighted, shallow, and self-centered. And then we can’t understand why God doesn’t meet our expectations.

The disciples struggled with this as well. Aside from their joy at seeing the risen Jesus, every conversation with him was tinged with disappointment.

Jesus’ response to their disappointment shows that their hopes and dreams were short-sighted, shallow, and self-centered. 

The resurrection changes everything when our life focus or mindset is eternal, transformational, and missional. 

ETERNAL

Jesus taught us that this life is a dot on an infinite line. The infinite line matters more than the dot. The dot still matters, but what’s most in the dot is what lasts beyond the dot.

TRANSFORMATIONAL

Hopes and dreams are shallow when we believe and live as if life is short. We place too much emphasis on short-term wins and losses. 

But Jesus goes deeper because life is eternal, and because it’s eternal, our life now is, in part, preparation for the infinite. 

So God is concerned with our growth and transformation here and now. God wants to transform our hearts, our relationships, our desires, and our loves because this is not all there is—God is with us and eternity awaits us.

MISSIONAL

The disciples were disappointed with the results of the resurrection because their hopes and dreams were only for their own people, Israel. They fixated on overthrowing the Romans so that they could experience political and religious freedom.

We’ll ultimately miss the purpose of our lives and our calling from God if we make life and faith only about our own families or even our fellow believers. 

The redemption Jesus brought is broader. His calling on our lives is bigger.

The resurrection will not disappoint us and we’ll live a more joyful, meaningful, and peaceful life when we begin to live life on mission for God.  

When the disciples eventually understood and embraced the resurrection, they discovered that the Romans were not an enemy to be defeated but a people to loved and to be won over for Christ, even if it cost them their own lives.

Jesus calls us to live as missionaries in our work places and neighborhoods. We’re ambassadors of his kingdom, and we bear the message of his grace. We are called to a life of compassion and witness. 

We are disappointed with the results of the resurrection and with God because we’re prone to twist our faith into something that is short-sighted, shallow, and self-centered. And then we can’t understand why God doesn’t meet our expectations.

But we experience deep joy and purpose when we value and prioritize what’s eternal, when we seek to grow by letting Jesus go deeper into our souls, and when we join him in his mission.

Easter 2017 from Five Oaks Church on Vimeo.

The resurrection changes everything! Then why is so much unchanged?

The crucifixion was devastating to the followers of Jesus. It dashed all their greatest hopes. So when they learned that Jesus was alive and saw him with their own eyes, they were amazed and filled with joy. They loved Jesus, so they were overwhelmingly happy to see him again, to walk him, to hear him teaching again. 

But have you ever noticed how, after the initial outburst of joy, there seems to be a growing disappointment and disillusionment with the resurrection? 

After the resurrection broken relationships were still broken. Sick people were still sick. The people that hated and persecuted the disciples were still in power. If they were depressed before the resurrection, they were still depressed. If they were poor and in debt before, nothing had changed after.

Jesus resurrected…great! Life after the resurrection…not so great.

They’re very happy Jesus is alive because they love him, but they’re pointedly disappointed in the results of his resurrection. You can see it in almost every conversation they have with the risen Christ.

The resurrection didn’t match their expectations so they were deeply disappointed. 

They expected Jesus to overthrow their Roman oppressors. They expected Jesus to rule in Israel as king. But none of that has happened. 

But there disappointment even goes deeper. Jesus is risen, but nothing has changed. 

According to what Jesus said before he died and was still saying after his resurrection, life is still going to be hard. Broken relationships were still broken. Sick people were still sick. The people that hated and persecuted them were still in power. If they were depressed before the resurrection, they were still depressed. If they were poor and in debt before, nothing had changed after.

It’s not what they expected.

It’s not much different for us. We’re still disappointed by the resurrection.

Our disappointment is sometimes expressed in a question, “If Jesus was who he says he was, then why….?” But more often our disappointment is demonstrated by how little the reality of the resurrection shapes our everyday lives.

The Bible is unequivocal: If we truly understand the resurrection and live in light of the resurrection, it will change everything. We’ll face the deepest tragedies and difficulties in our lives with hope, and we’ll lead more joyful, meaningful, peaceful lives. 

This weekend we’ll explore how the resurrection can change everything in your life. 

Come worship with us. Invite someone who needs to hear the life changing message of Easter.