Easter in America today has become increasingly focused on the wrong things. Most American children hear stories of a mythical bunny bearing colorful eggs, candy, and even gifts. If asked about the title for the holiday, most parents simply say that "Easter" is about celebrating the beginning of Spring. But Christians know better, or at least we should know better. Easter was not meant to be a springtime festival, nor does it have anything to do with rabbits, no matter how cute they may be. Easter is about celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Though our culture in general wants to forget that fact and have a holiday anyway, Easter is a Christian memorial to the greatest event in human history, namely that Jesus Christ arose from the dead to new life. The problem with the Church and with the culture is that many people have simply forgotten why Christians celebrate Easter, or they have never known to begin with. This may explain why our culture has tried to replace the point of Easter with its own imaginings.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the ultimate Christian hope. This hope is not meant to be something uncertain, but rather something that is very assuring in its certainty, because of who and what this hope is placed in. The Bible reminded me of this when I was reading the other night. The writer of Proverbs said, "Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be zealous for the fear of the LORD all the day; for surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off" (Proverbs 23:17-18, NKJV). The point is basically that we who believe in and follow God have no reason to be envious of those who do not know God, because we have something far better than anything that they could have: "hope" in the "hereafter." While the rest of humanity faces hopelessness or uncertainty concerning their eventual deaths, we have nothing to fear and everything to hope for after our deaths! This is precisely why the story of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is called "Good News!"
When David prophesied of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, he said, "Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Sheol (the grave), nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore" (Psalm 16:9-11, NKJV). David gave voice to the Christian hope in this passage. Our hope is not built upon anything that we have done for our future, but rather what God's "Holy One" has done. Jesus arose from the dead in order to make it possible for us to do the same! The night before the crucifixion, as Jesus warned His disciples that He would be leaving them soon, Jesus said, "A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also" (John 14:19, NKJV). Jesus was saying that when His disciples saw Him alive after His obvious death, they would know that they would "live also" after death. Jesus had already made this fact clear earlier, when He said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26, NKJV).
Belief is truly the key to finding hope for your hereafter. I recently heard that a leading clergyman in England said that it was not important whether or not the resurrection actually happened or not, because it is a matter of faith. I strongly disagree with this statement, because if the resurrection did not happen, then to believe in it and Jesus would be to believe in a lie. It would also leave me and the rest of humanity with no real hope for the hereafter. That is why the Apostle Paul said, "...if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty" (1 Corinthians 15:14, NKJV). Paul went on to say, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable" (1 Corinthians 15:19, NKJV).
Don't miss the promise that the Bible makes to those of you who "fear" the Lord, who believe in and follow Him. Concerning your hereafter, the writer of Proverbs said that "...your hope will not be cut off" (Proverbs 23:18, NKJV). In other words, the hope that you have for your hereafter will not die, when your hope is in Jesus Christ. Those around you may question the hope that you have, but your hope will not die! Those around you may die without hope, but your hope will not die! You yourself will one day die, but your hope will not die! Your hope for the hereafter will live on and be fulfilled because Jesus Christ is not dead! But you can only have that kind of hope for your hereafter, when you believe that Jesus Christ truly rose from the dead. Believing that is what Easter is all about.
"Dear Lord God, I praise You this Easter for the gift that You gave. Father, You gave Your Son to die so that we might live. Lord Jesus, You rose from the dead to give us a new life like Your own. Holy Spirit, You have confirmed in our hearts that this Good News is true. Help us to tell others what and why we celebrate this Easter. Amen."
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Two Must-Read Articles!
I have provided the links to two articles that were of great interest to me and that I believe should be read by all Christians who have a concern for the future of this country.
The first is an extremely encouraging article about a revival in a small town in Louisiana. This revival is occurring in the town of Jena, which was recently in the national news for its outbreak of racial violence. As you read this article, please pray that God will do the same where you live!
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=27604
The second article is on more of a negative event that occurred recently. It concerns what a leading presidential candidate shared about his beliefs on homosexuality and what he believes the Bible says about that subject. This article is as infuriating as the first one was encouraging, but if Christians are to be informed before the next election, articles like this must be read. As you read this article, please pray for our country and for God's will to be done!
http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=27532
The first is an extremely encouraging article about a revival in a small town in Louisiana. This revival is occurring in the town of Jena, which was recently in the national news for its outbreak of racial violence. As you read this article, please pray that God will do the same where you live!
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=27604
The second article is on more of a negative event that occurred recently. It concerns what a leading presidential candidate shared about his beliefs on homosexuality and what he believes the Bible says about that subject. This article is as infuriating as the first one was encouraging, but if Christians are to be informed before the next election, articles like this must be read. As you read this article, please pray for our country and for God's will to be done!
http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?id=27532
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