This week we celebrate the most life-changing event the world has ever known. No other event has given hope to so many as the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Each Christian holiday has tremendous meaning and importance, but Easter we celebrate the one that gave us the promise of a New Beginning!
I remember as a young child, not sure how I ever became aware of it at such a young age. But I was 8-9 years old and would lay in bed at night surrounded by darkness and wonder? “Is this what it will be like when the world comes to an end”? Remembering the fear that would come as I lay there until I fell back asleep. In about the mid 1960’s I also recall there had been some speculation that the occurrence of the end would come. My family was driving to town and there was a haze in the sky from the city lights and again that fear crept up on the inside of me. I had been raised in church but don’t really recall hearing much about the end of the world or the return of Christ. Move ahead to May 1974 I now being an adult attended a Gospel Concert and before the night was over had received the gift of salvation through acknowledging Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I still didn’t know much but I no longer was afraid of the end. For I had come to know Psalm 27:1 was the hope I now had.
Scripture tells us that if we place our trust in Christ that there is no fear in knowing His love (1 John 4:18). Before Jesus was crucified, they only had the promise their sins were covered through their ceremonial sacrifices yearly at the temple. This was a yearly sacrifice for previous sins and sins for the last year. However the sacrifice of Jesus was once and for all as it tells us in Hebrews 10:4-12. For the first time through the ages there would never have to be another sacrifice for sin. No longer were works associated with salvation (Ephesians 2:8-10). The blood of goats and bulls could never remove sin yet the blood of Jesus Christ that was poured out at the cross provided a New Beginning for all those who believe. Romans 10:9,10 tells us that if confess with the mouth Jesus is Lord and we believe with the heart that he was raised from the dead, we shall be saved.
This world is not permanent, it is only temporary. One day we will leave this earth through death, or it will be destroyed according to Revelation 21:1. When that occurs by that time only those only those who have put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved from eternal death.
This Easter let’s celebrate the TRUTH! That Jesus is alive and because He lives, I can face tomorrow, because HE LIVES! I can have HOPE BECAUSE HOPE IS ALIVE!
