Thoughts on this coming EASTER…

Never considered myself to be a great writer, or teacher for that matter. However, it has been pointed out to me that I occasionally have spurious knack for putting words in a way that can be thought provoking. As I contemplate this Easter I am reminded that Jesus NEVER asked anyone to remember His birth. What did Jesus ask that His disciples and (eventually) us to remember? We are told to remember His death and resurrection. Why? It is quite simple actually. The reason is so simple that this post will probably be the shortest in the history of this site thus far.

Jesus’ death is significant in that He was who He said He was. If He was not who He claimed to be then He died needlessly as a deluded, and perhaps, a demented individual. But Jesus WAS and IS who HE said HE was! He over came death, hell, and the grave and was resurrected by the power of the Father to ascend into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father. In that death and resurrection is VICTORY. It is a VICTORY that we who accept Christ as Lord and Savior share. We have VICTORY over death and the grave. We can have this VICTORY because Jesus died for us and He led the way by example. The resurrected Christ exhibits the POWER to take that which is sin scarred and dead and grant it eternal life free of pain and suffering.

I’ll be 52 years old in a few weeks. I’ve had difficulties in life and I am somewhat well acquainted with pain on a daily basis. Yet my pain is nothing compared to what Jesus suffered some 2000 + years ago for me. I am thankful that the pain I experience is no worse than it is. I am thankful that my pain is not the kind of pain Jesus suffered for my benefit. I am thankful that Jesus took the pain of my sin that I may have eternal life in worship. Tomorrow is Easter, the day attributed to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. What a glorious day it was for all mankind then. What a glorious day it is for mankind now. Jesus said in the gospel of John 14:15 “If you love me, you will keep My commandments.” Do you love Jesus? Do you keep His commandments?

If you were as faithful in serving in His church as you are sitting down to the dinner table, would you be hungry? If you were as faith in paying your bills as you are to bringing the full tithe, would you have a roof over your head? Do you love Jesus? Do you keep His commandments?

In the Book of ACTS (1:8), Jesus’ last recorded words involved a command to be His witness to those who were lost. Do you witness to others around you? Do you at least invite them to church? Do you love Jesus? Do you keep His commandments?

One thing is for certain. Jesus love YOU. He died for YOU. He was resurrected for YOU so that YOU have a chance of getting out of this world alive. I am most unworthy of His love for me. I invite you to examine yourself and decide if you are worthy of His love for you. Yet He extended us grace that we can grow and keep His commandments that God would be glorified.

I invite you all to attend church tomorrow. If you were to die tomorrow night do you know that heaven would be your eternal home? If not, don’t walk, RUN to Jesus! He’s waiting for you with outstretched arms. See you in church tomorrow, God Bless!

In His Grip,

Lonnie Richardson

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