About 2,200 miles off the coast of South America is a little island called Easter Island. It was named that because it was found by a Dutch explorer in the 1700s on Easter Sunday. Not many people live there. However, because of its location, it is used for navigation. There is navigational equipment on the island, and planes flying in the area can receive a signal and redirect their routes, if need be.

I see Resurrection Sunday, our Easter, as an "island" in the midst of a materialistic world. It will help you navigate through life. Your entire future can revolve around the grand "event of all events," when death was conquered 2,000 years ago as Jesus stepped out of that tomb.

When Mary Magdalene and the other Mary arrived at the tomb on Easter morning, an angelic messenger was there to greet them. He said, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead..." (Matthew 28:5-7)

If the tomb of Jesus was empty, what was there for them to see? What is there for us to see? First, the empty tomb shows the humility of Christ. It shows "This is how far God will condescend to reach humanity--by having his Son come, be tortured and killed, and then be buried in that tomb. Next, it shows the reality of sin. If you want to see how bad sin is and what it will do, think of the bruised, broken body of Jesus Christ, who died for sin, and was put in that tomb. Then, it shows the mortality of men. Any time you see a tomb, it should remind you that's where you're going someday ("...it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment." Hebrews 9:27). Finally, it shows victory over death. What did the angel want the women to see in the tomb? Nothing! That was the whole point: "He is not here. He is risen."

So today, if you're a believer, go and tell others. If you're not a believer yet, come and see. Come and see that the resurrection is not a hoax; it's not a story. Just as pilots set their course by the information picked up on Easter Island, can I suggest to you that you change your course based upon one important fact? The fact is that Jesus died, was buried, and rose the third day. This fact gives a great promise to all who believe in Him, that they will rise with Him and enjoy His glorious kingdom forever.