Some
were brought up in church – and it’s become a custom to attend an Easter Vigil
or Sunday Resurrection Day Service. Some
wonder, “Is this all real? Maybe I
should go, just in case.” While others
are just searching. For what? Even they aren’t sure.
If
only each would pause . . . truly call on the Lord to help them understand . .
. look into his Word . . . take a moment to pray . . . be still, and know He is
God.
You
cannot understand the passion of this season without understanding the passion
of our Lord. You cannot understand the
passion of our Lord without knowing him . . . truly knowing him. You cannot know him by a seasonal visit one day
in church. It takes a relationship –
with a Lord that calls us to have this personal relationship with him. No other “god” offers this amazing
opportunity.
God
knew me before I was even conceived. (Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born I set you apart. – Jeremiah 1:5)
He had plans for me before I was even known. (For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans
to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you
hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11)
He
loved me enough that he came to earth, became man, dwelt among the most unholy
beings, suffered and died; just to open the gateway to my being able to enter
the Kingdom of Heaven. (For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16)
The
suffering portrayed in story books, movies, television mini-series, etc., does
not show the true agony he experienced.
Jesus Christ, sinless and holy, was willing to take on himself the sin
of the world. As he hung on the cross,
he submitted his will, his power, and his holiness to our sin. Sin that could never be in the presence of a
Holy God. Sin that caused him, for the
first and only time, to be separated from God the Father. Sin that caused him to feel abandoned –
totally alone for the first time ever. (At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" - which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" - Mark 15:33-34)
He
willingly did this for me. For you. He bridged the gap between the Most High God
and mankind – allowing us a way to enter the Kingdom of God
God
calls us – in a whisper, in a shout, touching gently and sometimes tugging
strongly. We will have many burdens that
he will take away. We will also have
many blessings that will be both given and taken. His goal is not to make all perfect in this
world, rather his goal is to make us his; to offer a peace and a promise for
all eternity. (For our light and momentary
troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them
all. So we fix our eyes not on what is
seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is
unseen is eternal.
- 2 Corinthians 4:17-18)
As
I attend church this Easter Sunday, celebrating the Resurrection of the
Lord Jesus Christ, I am in awe of the fact that he thought I was worth his agony, his pain
and suffering, his separation from his Father, even his death.
But
– Hallelujah – he rose from the dead! (The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." - Matthew 28:5-7)
He
conquered sin and death that separated me from the God of the Universe. He called me to be a daughter of The Most
High God. He welcomed me to be a part of
his Kingdom plans.
He
allowed me to call him Lord & Savior.
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