The effects of the absence of God

He is life:

God is a God of the living. The bible teaches that in him was life and that life became the light of man (Jn 1:4). In the beginning God breathe life into man, making him to have life as he has life (Ge 2.7). God is the giver of life. All life exists, because of him. The Psalmist said that in God is the fountain of life (Ps 36:9). Everything that exists and lives is because God gave it life. Because Christ and the Father are one, they are the same source of life everything has. In turn, John says that whoever has the son has life (1 Jn 5:12). When we quest after God, we can expect that everything that might be dead in us will come to life and not death. The pharisees asked Jesus if a woman who married seven brothers one at a time, when she died and, in the resurrection, she would any of them wife. The Lord explained to them that God is not a God of the dead but of the living and of them that are of the resurrection (Lk 20:36-38).    

Luke 24:4-8

⁴ And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: ⁵ And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

⁶ He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, ⁷ Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

⁸ And they remembered his words,

Now, the women were expecting to find the body of Christ still in the grave. They had prepared spices and aromas to embalm the body. They had forgotten that Jesus had told them that he was going to be risen on the third day. Jesus had announced his death at least 4 major times. He announced it first, after Peter denied him, next after the transfiguration, then while he was on his way to Jerusalem, and at the last supper. So, the women had enough information to expect not finding the body in the grave and instead of making preparations for embalming the body, they could have prepared for seeing him alive. 

When they saw the angels, they did not behave in a surprised manner, but in disbelief they bowed their faces to the ground. They were expecting the dead Christ, but the news from the angels was that he was not there but was alive. The absence of Christ was devastating to these women. Jeremiah witnessed the effects of the absence of God in Jerusalem. He said that the situation was so scarce, that the prophets were not getting visions, the elders sat hopeless with dust over their heads, and the virgins bowed their heads to the ground (La 2:9-10). 

The women at the tomb did not leave with their faces to the ground, without hope. As soon as the angels reminded them about the third day, they remembered Christ’s words. Paul tells us that hope does not cause shame, because the love of God has been poured into our lives (Ro 5:5).

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