I read a writer's story of a six year-old youngster who one day, leaning over the crib in which lay his new born sister, with full assurance that having just come "from heaven" she must know something about God-whispers to his sibling: "can you tell me what Jesus is like? I'm starting to forget."

In our postmodern time in which everything is "me" centered, it seems like we're "starting to forget" the risen Lord and the prominent place He desires to occupy in our lives.

It was about eleven years ago on a tour of the Holy Land that with my wife, we visited the site of the death and resurrection of our Lord. If Eva and I had stood in Jerusalem that afternoon outside of a tomb holding the embalmed remains of Jesus, then our eternal destiny is unknown. Our faith would be incomplete. Death wins and we-ll of us-are locked into eternal nothingness.

But we saw the empty tomb of our Lord. I believed it before the trip-but it was evidence that the resurrection happened. And I believe again that on Easter morning-death lost!

Recalling that visit, I remember a few spiritual parallels drawn from the experience of standing in front of that empty tomb that once held the body of our Savior. One of the things that comes to mind is that a physical and spiritual grave (tomb) is a personal choice.

We would rather not think about it, but the reality of life is that one must select a burial site in preparation for "that day." Although it may not seem like it sometimes, most of us expect that one day we will pass from life to death. (And by the way, the Christian believes we pass from life to death...to eternal life!) So we get ready for it by selecting where we desire to be buried.

Jesus was different. The plan had not been publicly announced in advance of the need. He made no preparation for His death-no personally selected burial plot, even though it was all in (the Father's) hand.

Spiritual speaking life-or death-is a personal choice. If you live without Christ in your life you are locked in spiritual death before your physical exit from earth. When I walked into one of the Jewish tombs in Jerusalem I thought-"This is what it must be like for those who are spiritually dead. The inner being is vacant, cold, lifeless-and it's by choice."

When Jesus burst from the tomb it was a signal that resurrection is a certainty. We're not made to live in physical, emotional and spiritual caves of death in our natural life.

If you receive the forgiveness and the purpose of Christ for your life, death will not be the penalty for living. It's your choice.

Something else occurred to me that afternoon. Standing in front of the empty tomb, the visitor sees the huge stone that is still "rolled away." Are we starting to forget that no hindrance; no barrier; no stone need keep us locked in a lifeless inner cave? When Jesus miraculously exited from that cave of death it was for our release from that which robs us of the joy of living. And mind you-it's not just "big stones" that keep us from our new life possibilities; but there are those little things (pebbles)-that irritate and disturb the very life we were created to enjoy.

Our Lord's resurrection was intended to release us to live. Fear, discontent, bitterness, sin-you name the stones that are keeping you from being free. They can be "rolled away" because of what happened on the Cross-the full result of which culminated on Easter morning.

Good Friday was a day of unimaginable horror. But thank God (as one old preacher stated in his Good Friday sermon)-"Sunday's coming"! Easter morning has arrived and there is good news. You can be free.

I need to conclude with this thought. You can't soar in a cave!

We're Easter people! The vacant cross and the empty tomb is the best news mankind could ever hear. Jesus took the downside of life and flipped it right side up. He took the sin of mankind-all of it-for all time, on himself. He took it to the grave-and left it behind on Easter morning. You and I can access forgiveness and peace-and relieved of sins bondage we can stand with power to live a life that is pleasing to God.

The resurrection of our Lord is the divine exclamation point. He lives! And as Jesus, so we too can live now ... and forevermore!

Don't ever forget it!

Commissioner Israel L. Gaither is the National Commander for The Salvation Army in the USA.