Are You Longing for More Life in Your Life?

Maybe you think that's impossible in your situation. 

But what if it were true? Would you trade how you feel about your life now for deep-down, unshakable peace, no matter what comes? 

I write this as we near the end of what Christians call the Lenten season and Blog. Cross. 4.17nearing  Easter.                

You may be thinking, So what? That means nothing to me except chocolate eggs and bunnies. Silliness, really. 

Let's set that aside and concentrate on why Christians have celebrated Easter for centuries.

Not for treats but to remember the reason for it all.

Let's start with a brief recap 

The first pages of the Bible recount how God created what we call the natural world out of nothing. (Genesis 1)

Genesis 2 tells about God creating Adam and Eve, the first two human beings. They lived in a beautiful garden and were completely at ease with their Heavenly Father. We would say, they had it all.

God laid down only one condition: Do not touch or eat the fruit of this one tree in the middle of the garden or you will die. 

Then came the Devil, who spoke through the serpent. He planted doubt. (Doesn't he always?) Eve tasted the fruit and found it good, so she gave some to Adam and he, too, turned away from the Father who loved them.  (Genesis 3)

Their disobedience changed everything--for them and their descendants--that's us--even to this day.

What does this have to do with me?

We all know how often we fail to live up to even our own standards. (Remember those New Year's resolutions?)

What about after we die? Most people say they want to live a good life and many think if they "do the right thing" enough of their life they will make it into Heaven.

Yet our best efforts fall short because God's desire is that we be holy, because he is holy (Leviticus 19:2.) That means to be utterly good, in thought, word and deed, 24 hours a day throughout our lifetimes. Anything else is called "sin."

You and I know we couldn't achieve that, no matter how hard we tried.  

Even so, God never stopped loving. That's what Christmas is all about. The human baby born to Mary in Bethlehem, was the Son of God, and Joseph was to be his human father. (Luke, chapters 1-2) 

That Baby was human, born to a human mother, but he was also God. (Luke 1:35) 

So why did he die on a cross?

Let's get this straight first: Jesus was not overwhelmed and captured by those soldiers in the Garden of Gethsemane. He went with them willingly, all while knowing what would follow.

This God-man came to earth to set things right between us human beings and God. Jesus, who never sinned, allowed Himself to be nailed to the cross. For you, for me. It was all part of God's plan.

God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

In [Christ] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.                 Ephesians 1:7

Jesus died on a cross, yes, but there is more to it 

If you haven't known it before, you can read the whole story in the Gospel of John, chapters 19-21.

Yes, Jesus died to pay the price for all our sins, past, present and future.

But ... he rose again!

After three days in the tomb he reappeared to his followers many times. He interacted and talked with them and ate regular food with them.

Jesus even invited Thomas to touch his wounds because Thomas couldn't believe what his friends were saying.  

No wonder his followers were overjoyed

You and I can share in that joy. Because Jesus lives eternally, every person who trusts and believes in him as their Lord and Savior also has eternal life.

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

"Whoever" includes all who believe. Period.

That's why Christians celebrate Easter

It's all about love. Love that kept Jesus there on the cross. Love that never fails or walks away when we're hurting. Love that brings us joy, even in our lowest times.

This gift is available to every one of us, ours for the taking and the trusting. Will we accept it and choose to walk with the One who loves us this much? 

I'm praying for you, dear invisible friends,

Lenore

 


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