HIS RESURRECTION POWER BRINGS NOT ONLY REAL LIFE, BUT ETERNAL LIFE
The teacher at school explained that Easter weekend was a special event whereby God demonstrated His love for the whole world. At nine years of age, I could not relate that to the shocking cruelty I encountered at home that Easter Sunday morning. A devastating scene took place. It left a scar on my fragile nine year old spirit and a lasting painful memory that brought sadness far beyond what a child should bear. Easter became associated with that unpleasantness.
By the age of fourteen, and now in high school, I dis- covered Easter weekend hosted two very important events, the Easter Parade and the fashion show. My after- school job supplied the new spring coat and the latest bonnet. Hats were the high fashion. Sophistication was the craze and every teenage girl sported her Audrey Hepburn hat to church. These hats sat so low over the eyes that the only thing showing between the shoulder blades and the brim of the hat were our lips. The older girls had cigarette holders poised between their pearly whites but at fourteen, two and a half inch spike heels were as far as you dared to go. Smoking would have to wait til at least fifteen. Easter had potential.
By the age of nineteen, this national holiday allowed for additional R & R with friends. Nothing more. Nothing less. Easter was now just convenient.
By the age of twenty-five I had three babies, mortgage payments and loads of dirty laundry. Easter weekend evolved into three days of catching up on much needed rest. Wearing your robe and slippers til noon was now the venue.. Sophistication was dead. Casual was in. Did I say casual? Flower children, love beads and holes- in -your -clothes created a bottom of the barrel fashion scene. The kids and I sat on the floor and painted eggs. Easter, I was determined, would become a positive, wholesome memory.
By the age of twenty-nine, class and prestige prevailed. Goals changed to keeping up with the Jonesī and buying all the bells and whistles, perks and toys. Working Easter weekend brought my husband triple pay. Easter became profitable.
Finally, at 32 years of age, the reality of Easter dawned in my heart. The true purpose of Easter was revealed to me for the first time. I beheld the Lamb of God who died for the sins of the world and He transformed my life. God became real. God became personal. The Lord of Easter Sunday morning had been waiting all these years to arise triumphant in my life and have His resurrection power bring true life and true meaning to mine.
That grade four teacher was right after all, Easter truly demonstrates Godīs love for this whole world. God came to earth as a man to reconcile mankind to Himself. The Creator sweat drops of blood knowing the agony that awaited Him at the hands of His creation, yet He laid down His life willingly so that you and I could have eternal life . Soldiers mocked Him and struck Him with their fists. They flogged Him and spit upon His face because He called Himself the Son of God. Iron spikes were hammered into his hands and feet at a place called Golgotha, yet He endured the pain and the shame. His side was pierced with a sword while a crown of thorns pierced His head, yet He cried, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." His blood was shed for the remission of our sins as He took our penalty upon Himself and paid our debt on that rugged cross. The GLORY and WONDER of it all was that He did not remain on that cross nor in the grave. He rose from the dead and lives forevermore, seated at the right hand of God the Father, interceding on our behalf. His plea to us is that we believe on Him and make Him the Lord of our life. He wants to not only live in our hearts but to mend our broken lives, to soothe our pain and heal our hurts and to make us whole. He wants to give us a reason for living and a glorious hope for the future. "I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live . And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."
Right now, this very minute, why donīt you ask Jesus Christ to arise in your heart and make Himself real to you? Donīt wait another year. He loved you so much that He died to make this Easter weekend a BLESSED, GLORIOUS, and ETERNAL celebration of His endless love.
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