The document asks two questions based on passages from Luke and Acts: 1) Why are you seeking fulfillment among dead things when Christ, who is alive, can provide answers? 2) Why remain stationary in the wrong place when taking one step of faith towards Christ can lead you to the right place? It encourages readers to make Jesus, who conquered death, the living Lord of their life so they can find purpose, direction and answers.

1. WHY ARE YOU IN THE WRONG PLACE? Reading: Luke 24:1-12; Acts 1:1-11. Life is full of why’s! It starts with the young, not long after birth, and it never ends, even to the death bed. Many ask the question, why? The child asks: Why was I born? Why are you my parents? Why must I wash and clean my teeth? Why must I eat my food? Why must I go to school? Why do I need to go to bed? Why? Why? Why? The teenager asks: Why must I get out of bed? Why must I do my home work? Why must I be in by midnight? Why cannot I do what I want? Why must I get a Saturday job? Why must I listen to you? Why? Why? Why? The young adult asks: Why must I study? Why must I go to work? Why must I live a good life? Why cannot I drink, smoke or take drugs? Why must I live in this house? Why must I tell you where I am going? Why? Why? Why? The adult asks: Why must I put up with this job? Why must I put up with this house? Why must I put up with this car? Why must I put up with this marriage? Why must I put up with this life? Why? Why? Why? The older adult asks: Why am I getting older? Why am I feeling sick all the time? Why are my bones and limbs aching? Why are my friends dying? Why can’t I go back to bed? Why am I dying? Why? Why? Why? From birth to death we keep asking the question, why? Because life is full of why’s. Can I ask you TWO more why’s? 1. Why are YOU in the wrong place? 2. Why are YOU staying in the wrong place? I am going to ask YOU, two questions asked of the disciples of Jesus, both questions where asked by angels, of the disciples. Well, I cannot get an angel to ask you my questions, but I pray the Holy Spirit will ask them for me. If these questions come from a man today, nothing will change in your life, but, if these questions are asked of the Holy Spirit, everything in your life could change today. BEING IN THE WRONG PLACE. “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen!” There is no life among the dead; there is no life in a cemetery, so there is no advice, direction or guidance among the dead. The Bible says “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins” Ephesians 2:1. Being dead could mean, “Having no existence, having no purpose, having no direction.” You can be alive, breathing, yet still be dead, because you are not going anywhere, for your whys and questions of life, are not being answered. Because today YOU could be in the wrong place! Let us quickly look at this question asked by the angels of the disciples of Jesus. “Why do you seek the living among the dead? a. The background to the Day! Roman soldiers nailed Jesus to the CROSS at 9.00am that first “Good Friday” morning. By 3.00pm in the afternoon of the same day Jesus was dead. Friends came to take Jesus' body; they wrapped Him in burial clothes and laid Him in a borrowed tomb. Because of the Sabbath Day (night fall Friday, till night fall Saturday), they were to return to anoint the body of Jesus later, early Sunday morning, after the Sabbath, but God had His own plans for that day. b. The start of the Day! When the Sabbath day was over, the women returned to the tomb with spices and ointment. It was early Sunday morning, the first day of a new week. When they arrived at the tomb they found it unsealed, and the stone rolled away. On entering they found the tomb empty, and two angels asked of them: “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” c. The resurrection of the Day! Nothing can be more convincing than a personal experience of seeing with your own eyes. Seeing that the tomb was empty and hearing the angel’s message, convinced the women of the reality of the resurrection. They needed no other proof to convince them or to persuade them, that Jesus was alive. For they run to tell the disciples the reality of the resurrection of Jesus. d. The renewal of the Day! The news of Jesus' resurrection changed the attitudes of people; the resurrected Jesus made a big difference in the lives of first-century disciples. Before the resurrection, the disciples were fearful, disillusioned, disappointed, and depressed, but the risen Christ transformed their lives. For without the resurrection of Jesus, our faith is in vain. Why are YOU in the wrong place? Because YOUR answers to life are not among dead things, but in the Living Lord Jesus Christ. “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen!” So, why are YOU in the wrong place? Looking for a dead Christ, who was crucified on Good Friday, when He is alive? Jesus is raised from the dead and alive for ever more. If you desire to learn of the reality of the resurrection of Jesus. Open up your heart, mind, and life to Him. For He is alive! For the Bible tells us so! For the Spirit tells us so! For I know in my heart and life it is so! STANDING STILL IN THE WRONG PLACE. “Men of Galilee, WHY stand gazing up into heaven?” Acts 1:10-11. Now, my second question to you, having known the answers to YOUR questions are found in Jesus. Why are you still in the wrong place? Why are you still standing in the wrong place? You are at this time, only ONE STEP away from the answers to life. Today you can sit on your questions and whys of life, or you can take a step of faith, arise and find the answers to life. They were so near to the right place! But so far from the right place! You also can be so near, yet still miss were the Lord is. You may miss it because you are staying in the same place looking, and not getting ready to move to the place, He has destined you should be. There are many still in death, where there should be life. The One, who was put upon the CROSS, died and was buried, yet arose from the tomb. He who in His earthly life had made the lame to walk again, the deaf to hear, and the blind to see. Shall so come again to you. Why are YOU standing in the wrong place? CONCLUSION: Do you know the same Jesus that the disciples knew? Does this Jesus reign and rule in your life? Have we lost the reality of the Living Saviour, Christ Our Lord? I want to encourage you to take the living Jesus with you always.