Have you noticed secular society largely ignores Easter? I suppose if you don’t believe in Jesus, there’s no reason to celebrate him rising from the dead. But here’s the problem. If you and I are not careful, we might minimize Easter too.

Of all the reversals of fortune recorded in Scripture (and there are many), Easter is the greatest. Jesus raised others from the dead, but they would die again. He rose as proof that he conquered death for all believers of all time.

The apostle Paul said it best: “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is pointless, and your faith is pointless too. If our hope in Christ applies only to this life, we are the most pitiful people of all. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as in Adam they all die, so also in Christ they all will be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:14,19,20,22 EHV).

Easter proves that God won. Satan tried, but Jesus overcame, and life is ours. And here’s what so many of us miss. It’s not just about heaven. It’s about the way we live now because of Easter.

Romans 8:10,11 explains: “If Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, but your spirit is alive because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive through his Spirit, who is dwelling in you.”

God’s Spirit is alive in us right now. God’s Spirit—the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead—is alive in our mortal bodies, infusing us with the same resurrection power.

This is the power that defeated sin. This power in us overcomes our sin, our addiction, our inadequacies. We don’t have to be known as the people with the sharp tongues or quick tempers. The Holy Spirit in us can calm us and keep us from hurting others.

We don’t have to be the people others cringe to see, knowing there will be all kinds of complaints when we open our mouths. We don’t have to live selfishly. We don’t have to be estranged or in loveless marriages. We don’t have to be crippled by anxiety and constantly worried about all the things that could happen.

Resurrection power is God in us. It means we can make it through the job loss and the health struggle, the persecution and raising kids, not because everything is good and easy but because God gives us his strength and stamina and an eternal perspective.

Easter is our reminder that no matter how bad it looks, God wins in the end. And as much as Satan tries with every circumstance and every whisper that things are spinning out of control, you can be sure God is firmly on the throne and hasn’t lost sight of you. He knows the hairs on your head. You are always before him. And he will give you everything you need to persevere until he brings you home.

No one offers more. No one has given so much. When you understand that, Easter is not easily overlooked or forgotten.