Looking for love in the wrong place.
When I was in college, I was looking for love in all the wrong places. I thought I would find love in teen night clubs or in a bar. But people aren’t looking for love when they go to those places, they’re looking for fun. This is why you are disappointed when you don’t find the relationship you’re looking for. You’re looking in the wrong places.
You may be trying to mend a relationship that is broken but you’re looking for remedies in the wrong places.
Looking for happiness and fulfillment in the wrong place.
Sometimes I find myself looking for happiness when I look to the next thing to purchase. I am disappointed when I don’t find fulfillment in the next car, or the next house, or the next phone, or the next vacation.
I am looking for life in things that won’t reciprocate. I am looking for life in inanimate objects and in other places instead of the place where I’m located.
Looking for what has already been revealed.
Sometimes what we are looking for is right in front of us, but we still may not see it. Have you ever been holding the remote in your hand while searching for the remote? Have you ever asked for your glasses while wearing them on your head? And then you’re surprised to find the remote in your hand and glasses on your head.
The early disciples did not understand where to find the love God had for them when love was personified right before them in Jesus.
The early followers at times did not understand the goal of Jesus’s love for the world, to save his people from their sins through the cross and the grave. They were surprised by the things he did in his life and they were certainly surprised by his death.
Everyone had abandoned Jesus when he died. None of the 12 disciples, or his family, placed him in the grave. It was another person that did it. His name was Joseph of Arimathea.
He was a respected member of the Jewish council (a group of religious leaders).
Joseph is introduced in Luke 23. In another gospel, it says that Joseph “boldly” asked Pilate for Jesus’ body.
No matter where you have entered into the story of God’s love for you, like Joseph can make a bold request before God for Jesus.
You have been searching for love and love has been in the world, figuratively and literally.
Love went to the grave in the body of Jesus.
Like many who are searching for Love let me tell you where not to find Love.
Love is no longer in the grave.
There is a certain type of pickle that my wife and kids like. They’re the Claussen sandwich sliced pickles. To me, a pickle is just a pickle. So when I went to the pickle section in my local supermarket I didn’t see the pickles that my family had requested. I had to make a decision and I just grab a pickle jar that I believe was suitable. “That pickle jar will do.”
But when I got home and presented my alternative choice to my family they were very disappointed to say it lightly. My wife said to me, “don’t you remember.” I told you that they are in the refrigerated section near the sandwich meats.
“Don’t you remember?”
Women went with Joseph of Arimathea to see the borrowed tomb where Jesus was placed but since the Sabbath was near, they obeyed their religious laws and traditions and rested on Saturday. They were planning to go back with spices and perfumes on Sunday to further prepare Jesus’ body for burial.
They were startled to find the stone rolled away and an empty grave. They were frightened by the angels who then said why are you looking in the pickle section?
You don’t look for the living among the dead. He is risen!
Don’t you remember what Jesus said while he was still with you?
‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’
Jesus
And then they remembered the words of Jesus.
This may not be the first time you have heard this story and for many reading, you’ve heard it many times. But we may have forgotten Jesus’ words and so we have forgotten where to look for life and love.
You may be looking for love in apathetic places. You may be looking for life in dead things. You are looking for life and love in the wrong places.
But life is birthed from life and love is born out of love. The resurrection of Jesus is a new life for those who believe.
The women carried the good news the gospel of Jesus’ resurrection to the disciples and Peter. Peter runs to the tomb and wonders “what happened here.” Peter and the others would later see the resurrected Jesus and they too would remember his words. They too would be reminded of his love.
The disciples saw him and doubted and yet they believed. And through the Holy Spirit, they increased in their faith and in their boldness and in their reliance on Jesus. Through faith, they too experienced their own resurrection.
I was resurrected when I trusted in Jesus with all my heart and when I made the commitment to him by being baptized, representing my sins being washed away and the birth of my new life out of the grave. Since I have experienced my own resurrection I seek to live the resurrected life out of the power of the Holy Spirit.
That means that when you look for me there are places you won’t find me. Sure, you’ll see me on Sundays worshipping with my church family. You may find my family and me at the park riding bikes. You’ll see me at home watching the NBA playoffs. And you’ll probably find me with my girls at Lamar’s Donuts at least once a week. At least.
But here are some places you won’t find me.
When you look for me you won’t find me buried in despair. When you look for me you won’t find me defeated in sin. When you look for me you won’t find me abandoned. When you look for me you won’t find me dead. You won’t find me in the grave.
You will find me with the one who loves me. You will find me with the Love that was poured out for the world. The Love that conquered the grave. You will find me with the resurrected Jesus.
Surprised by hope.
Sometimes we may be critical of the disciples’ ineptness and their unbelief. We may be surprised at the ignorance and lack of courage.
But I am more surprised at the turnaround of the disciples that I am of their unbelief. I am more startled at a person’s resiliency in Jesus than I am over when a person who has lost all hope. I am more taken aback by the wonders of God over a person’s faith than someone who is resigned to despair.
And I am floored by how much I have been through, suffered and lost in my life and how the Lord has sustained me.
Is it possible that you could believe more fully in the resurrected Lord? You could be surprised by hope!
You can say today. “Remember how I once thought and what I once believed. I am startled by my change.” Maybe you need to make the next step of faith.
Don’t be frightened be courageous. You can choose to look among the living for the living savior, Jesus.
You can choose today to look in the right place.
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Jovan preaches for the Littleton Church of Christ near Denver, Colorado. Visit here to listen to sermons preached at the Littleton Church.