Story by Kristine Barnes
Easter is the greatest story ever told that’s TRUE! It is God’s greatest gift to humanity, of whom you are a part.
Easter is not about colored eggs and squishy Peeps and fuzzy bunnies and hollow chocolate!
At Easter we celebrate the ONE. Everyone enters the world the same way; birth. Everyone leaves the world the same way; death.
Only this ONE was resurrected from the dead and ascended into heaven. For those who trust in this ONE, our Lord Jesus Christ, He becomes our Savior, Who will share his world with us. All our hope lies in Him, regardless of what is happening in our world.
Some fear buying into that Christian “mythology” that claims an Eternal God who actually loves people. They think religion might be only for the weak, who need a crutch to lean on, when things don’t go well, like when there’s a global pandemic! They balk at the idea that God had a Son whom He sent to earth for the sole purpose of dying! Who would do that?!
And then it gets even crazier! This Son, called Jesus Christ, didn’t stay dead. Jesus, who voluntarily laid down his life to save ours, took it back up again, and after visiting with many on earth who loved Him, returned to the Heavenly Kingdom where He reigns beside his Father, for all eternity.
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live even if he dies.” John 11:25 Probably everyone agrees that none of us gets out of here alive, but now there’s an alternative…Jesus the Christ is offering eternal life to anyone who will accept his gift. Freely given, freely received.
Once again, there are those who fear buying into this idea. What’s the catch? What do I have to do? What do I have to give up; my freedom to live any way I desire? Jim Elliot, a Christian missionary who was killed (martyred) while serving the people of Ecuador, said, “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.” He was of course, referring to life…we can’t keep our earthly life, nor can we lose our eternal life.
Psalm 14:1 tells us, “Fools say to themselves, “There is no God.” They sin and commit evil deeds; none of them does what is right.” God is not like the Easter Bunny – God exists whether we believe in Him or not. As Psalm 69:5 notes, “God knows our foolishness; and our sins are not hidden from Him.” And I Cor 1:18 reveals, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
Because we fear accountability, we often water down the Bible’s message. We attempt to draw all people in by softening God’s Word so no one will feel convicted of sin. We reject the tough parts. “But everyone who hears these sayings of mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand”… Matthew 7:26 If we truly desire to be a part of God’s redemptive plan, we must make Him a part of us.
We must turn our focus toward the things of God. We communicate with Him through prayer. We do what He commands and develop an intimacy with our God. “For my people are foolish, they have not known Me. They are silly children, and they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.” Jeremiah 4:22
We are told we can ask God in prayer to send his Spirit to enlighten us, so the ways of the Lord do not seem foolish. The sweet thing about Easter is…everyone’s invited!
If you want to accept the remarkable offer of Jesus Christ to join the resurrected ones, tell Him that today! Don’t let this verse apply to you; “Although they knew God, they did not worship Him as God, or give Him thanks, but thought up foolish ideas, so their minds became dark and confused”. Romans 1:21
Don’t be an April Fool!! Toss aside your pride and prejudice and grab hold of the One Man who has kept, and will keep, every promise He ever made. He said He was the only way to the Father and that He would share life with the Father, with us.
Trust Him in this! Trust Him in all things. This global mess will have an end. We can treasure all the things we are learning about how to care better for one another, and we can move forward to be better people from now on. That’s good news!
Deuteronomy 32:6 Do you thus deal with the Lord, O foolish and unwise people? Is He not your Father, who bought you? Has He not made you and established you?
1 Samuel 13:13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.”
1 Chronicles 21:8 So David said to God, “I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing; but now, I pray, take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have done very foolishly.”
2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.
Psalm 69:5 O God, You know my foolishness; And my sins are not hidden from You.
Proverbs 1:22 How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge.
Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.
Proverbs 13:20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.
Proverbs 14:7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, when you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.
Proverbs 15:5 A fool despises his father’s instruction, but he who receives correction is prudent.
Proverbs 19:1 [ The Fear of the Lord Leads to Life ] Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
Romans 1:21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
1 Corinthians 1:18 [ Christ the Power and Wisdom of God ] For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
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