The Hope of Easter

by Jim Everett
I wonder how Easter feels to an unbeliever. To be thought of as an unbeliever, the person must have no religious belief or at least have doubtsabout God’s existence. How must that feel? As an unbeliever, I would think that person would hold little to no hope beyond the short life here on earth. Unless of course they make the mistake of thinking being a good person here guarantees eternity in heaven. 

It is true we all have different lifespans, with no guarantee of tomorrow. The unborn taken before that first breath, a small child taken before kindergarten’s first day, the teen lost because of an overdose, car or ATV accident, the young graduate taken in the first year of their military enlistment, the grandmother who loses her battle with cancer, the father who passes quietly at an old age. It does not matter the age or circumstance; all are hard to bear. Personally, I am thankful I do not know how long I have here on earth. But what I do know is who holds my life beyond tomorrow.

Since we do not know what tomorrow holds, it should prompt us to make sure we have life beyond tomorrow. That is where Jesus comes in. God knew there was only one way to provide the pathway to eternal life and that was the sacrifice of His one and only Son, Jesus. Jesus came humbly as a seed planted by God in Mary’s womb. He lived a sinless life and died for each person who ever lived, whether they believed in Him or not. He died for sinners, for those who needed the hope of an eternal life,those who would accept His gift of eternal life.

Easter Sunday is one of the biggest attendance days for churches in America, although I am not exactly sure why. Apparently one reason is that it is because Easter Sunday is one of the two days a year non-believers will show up with family just to be together. An unbeliever seldom will show up at church on Easter alone. It is also believed to be because those who have wandered away from the Shepherd come home to connect with believers they have missed by not coming to church on a regular basis.

While it is true that simply going to church on Sundays will never get you to heaven, it is also true that corporate worship with like-mindedbelievers is extremely important to your walk with Christ. It will always take a personal relationship with Jesus, a commitment to follow Him, to seek forgiveness of our sins, repent and turn and walk in a new light, to save us. It is a gift with no strings attached. You can’t earn it. You can’t buy it. No one can give it to you but Jesus.

Then why do people still reject Him? Simply put, they want to live this short life on their terms. They do not want to be accountable to anyone at all. Sad, but true. 

When a person dies the only thing that dies is the body. The spirit lives on forever. But where does the spirit live? That is where Jesus comes in. If you do not choose to believe in Jesus, who is the default? Satan and Hell. When all said and done, our spirit goes to one or the other for eternity.

I want to encourage you to make sure you know without a doubt where you will spend eternity. Make no mistake: no decision is a decision, and it is not where you want to live life every day. Please come to church, any church you choose, and find out for yourself who Jesus is. Consider this devotion your personal invitation to church. It may be months or years before you decide to follow Jesus but start now before it is too late. Once our time here has ended, we can no longer decide.

I hope and pray you all have a beautiful Spring and Easter Sunday with our risen Savior, Jesus Christ. May God bless all of you today andthroughout your lives.

One other thing: consider hiding plastic eggs that are empty on Easter with your children and grandchildren. Explain that on Easter morning when Mary went to the tomb where Jesus was laid it was empty. Jesus had already risen. You can still give them candy not associated with the eggs. This will give you the opportunity to discuss the resurrection even furtherwith them. Plant a seed. It’s a start.

Jim Everett