This morning I walked around Palm Creek, our RV park here in Arizona, and was struck at how empty it is right now. From January through March it's mostly full. There are 1900+ spaces here and when it's full, it is home to about 3200 people. During the full days people are everywhere, driving golf carts, biking, walking, golfing and conversing.
But right now, less than two weeks since it was last full, two-thirds of the spaces and homes are empty. 2500 people have left, and that leaves the park feeling really empty.
"Empty" is not a positive word to me. An empty bank account can terrify us. An empty chair means someone has left us. Sometimes we feel empty of emotions, such as when the tears of death or loss drain us. An empty relationship can leave us feeling hopeless. Empty nesters acutely feel the loss of children no longer home. In general, "empty" is not a word we like to hear.
Unless, of course, we consider Christ's tomb. The disciples found it empty. The body was gone. "He is not here - He is risen," said the angel. "Come and see the [empty] place where He lay." (Matthew 28:6) Now "empty" is good - very good!
An empty home can leave us sad, but the empty grave of Christ brings us hope and joy. "Because He lives, we, too, shall live," said one of His disciples. There's nothing negative about "empty" when it means Jesus is alive.
May the empty tomb fill you with joy because you believe CHRIST IS RISEN!
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