EASTER GREETINGS TO MY E-MAIL, FB, TWITTER AND LINKEDIN FRIENDS Happy Resurrection Sunday to you! But what does that mean? Resurrection Sunday, better known as Easter, is the celebration of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christs arising from the grave after three days. However, it has become just as confusing a celebratory time as Christmas which has become a retailers paradise instead a time to remember Jesus first birth. In this instance, though, I look at my calendar and find holidays galore listed, but not Easter. Why? I believe it is because it is a Christian holiday and has little or no commercial value to all concerned and in todays society, it is taboo to acknowledge such an observance as universal because of being afraid to offend someone who does not share our beliefs (unless, of course, it has commercial value). But think about the secular holidays that honor this event or that person, and you will find them duly noted and celebrated. But not our holiday. Easter to us is why we are saved. It represents that while we were yet sinners, God sent his only begotten son to die for us. The birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ to sit at the right hand of the Father in heaven is the accumulation of our salvation; and the rolling away of the stone from the hewn cave in the rock where Jesus was buried is the manifestation of the love God had showed, and still shows toward all mankind. But think on the reason for this: (1) In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. (2) God created man. (3) Man sinned against God. (4) Man was banished from his fellowship relationship with God and the earth was cursed. (5) Man had no way to reconcile with God and could not save himself from the guaranteed eternal separation from God. (6) God destroyed mankind save for a few. (7) Man repopulated the earth, but because of his sin nature continued to sin. (8) But God so loved the world that he sent His only begotten Son to die on the cross so that the sins of those who believe in Him could be saved and be returned to a personal relationship with God. (9) Jesus fulfilled His charge and will judge all mankind to determine where they will eternally reside: those saved through belief in Jesus Christ reside with God and Jesus (I and my father are one) and those not saved by Christ’s action, and their lack of belief in Him, will be eternally cast into the Lake of Fire. Let us remember this holiday with joy and love in our hearts. First, let us not reverse the order of our celebration. Let us first thank God for his plan of salvation through his Son that allowed us to move from separation and darkness to closeness and light. And second, because I am blessed and you are blessed, we should share our blessings one with another and with all with whom we come into contact. Tell the story of Jesus. Tell especially of His death and resurrection. Tell that He lives and how we know He lives. Sing praises to Him and acknowledge His goodness. Do not be of the world though you live in it. God bless. Paul R. Green Jr.
Posted on: Sun, 20 Apr 2014 07:00:02 +0000