“But now is Christ risen from the dead,
and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by
man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in
Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-22).
I
would be remiss if I did not use this column to meditate upon the single
greatest event of this month of April 2026: Easter is finally upon us! Christ
is risen from the dead, and may we all rejoice forever in this single glorious
fact, if in nothing else. Hallelujah!
This
past Sunday, we celebrated arguably the most sacred holiday in the Christian
calendar: Easter, the celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ. This was the moment in history that truly changed everything.
History is divided into two great periods, B.C. (Before Christ) and A.D. (Anno
Domini, “in the Year of our Lord”). Well, this is why.
Thousands
of great men have lived in the world. Every one of them has met his death, or
soon will. Only one of them has defeated death, and He did so not only for
Himself, but for every one of us. It’s easy to forget how truly
earth-shattering this event was, amid all the hustle, routine, work/life
balancing, financial matters, and logistics that together make up the cocktail
of modern life. But when you truly stop to think about it, the Resurrection of
Christ is really the hinge on which all of history turns, just as Christ is the
Door that opens wide to admit His own sheep into Heaven.
For
us as Prattville Dragoons, this message carries a special weight. We are a
people who remember sacrifice, who honor those who came before us, and who
understand that redemption can follow even the greatest loss. The resurrection
reminds us that no struggle, no loss, no grave, and no calumny has the final
word when placed in God’s hands.
The
Resurrection reminds us that Christ is sovereign, not only over all living
things, but even over Death itself. It
is said of General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson that, when asked the secret of
his legendary courage in battle, replied, “Captain, my religious belief teaches
me to feel as safe in battle as in bed. God has fixed the time for my death. I
do not concern myself about that, but to be always ready, no matter when it may
overtake me....That is the way all men should live, and then all would be equally
brave.”
General
Jackson’s storied bravery came from his equally famous dedication to the
principles of Christianity. A devout Presbyterian, Jackson firmly believed that
the Resurrection of Christ was a living hope that he, as a Believer shared in.
As such, Jackson believed that not only was the timing and manner of his death
completely ordered by God, but that even his death would not be permanent. And
thus believing, Jackson lived as a shining example of honorable manhood,
soldierly virtue, and the joy and boldness worthy of a Christian and a
gentleman.
For us, the
question remains: seeing that we have such a strong assurance of the power and
sovereignty of our Lord and Savior, are we living in the joyful courage that
such assurance can give? In the light of Christ’s Resurrection, we need fear no
man; not only no man, but no opinion, no lies or propaganda, no soiling of our
good name and heritage, not even our death itself. The Resurrection of Christ
turned twelve men from timid cowards hiding in an upper room in Jerusalem to
lion-like Apostles of the Christian Faith, each of whom boldly and joyfully
preached his way into martyrdom or exile, and built the Christian Church in the
process. May each of us derive from this blessed Eastertide a little of that
courage, that boldness, and that joy, to brighten our hearts and enliven our
minds, and motivate each of us to act to God’s glory and our neighbors’ good.
