“There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.”

–Matthew 28:2 NIV

Mary and Mary Magdalene went to the tomb looking for Jesus and what they found was that the earth had shaken and an angel had come down from heaven, rolled to the side the stone that covered the tomb and then proceeded to sit on the stone.

“There was a violent earthquake” prior to Jesus, the Light of the World piercing through the darkness of death.

The director’s script could have read like this:

Earth, quake! Enter angel. Angel approaches stone and rolls stone out of the way. Following this, the angel sits on stone, nonchalant.

What an entrance!

The angel could have done it quietly, inconspicuously. That’s how we may want God to do things in our lives. Our way. Quietly. After all perhaps if God takes care of things quietly and fast enough, well then, no one has to know the “tomb” that’s holding us back or the “stone” thats preventing our deliverance.

But “There was a violent earthquake” !

God wants to work in your life –His way not your way. His way may include an outrageous, loud, public display of His power. Removing the obstacles in your life that keep you from living a life of deliverance, a life of freedom, is an easy thing for God to do. However, that which is hidden needs to come to light and exposed so that is stripped of all power.

Perhaps there needs to be a “violent earthquake” for you to come to the realization that:

“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”  Colossians 2: 13-15 NIV

Will you allow God to do whatever He needs to do to remove the “stone” in your life and set you free from whatever is holding you back?

Perhaps it needs to shake in your life…Now,”violent earthquake” is no fun. It is unsettling, frightening and renders you with the feeling of powerlessness. Do not fret because of the earthquake but rejoice that the angel of the Lord is showing up.

Pray Psalm 77: 13-17  Proverbs 3:5-6

Oh, Heavenly Father, I have called upon You and I wait on You.  Forgive me for wanting You to do things my way. Your ways, God, are holy. You are a great God who performs miracles and display Your power among the peoples.  When You show up on the scene, waters split, they recede, they convulse. So God, show up in my life! Do what needs to be done that I may be seriously passionate about my faith. Let what needs to be shaken, be shaken, roll away what needs to be rolled away. 

I trust in you Lord with all my heart and I will not try to figure it out myself. I submit completely to You. You will guide me and straighten out my paths.

Lord, have your way in my life. I Surrender all to you!