It’s Easter again. Do I really care? Am I truly expected to believe that God’s son, Jesus Christ, came to Earth and allowed himself to be crucified to pay for my sins? Isn’t that a stretch?
History tells us Jesus was here. He made such an impact that our calendar was reset by his presence. But is it truly believable that he died for my sins? And if so, should I reorder my life because of it?
Recently, my wife and I and 39 others joined a Bible-believing church. Over the past several months, a dozen or so young married people and their children have gathered in our home on Wednesday nights to learn more about Christ and share their experiences. Each of them has dedicated their lives to Him. Regularly, one of them will sit down and recount, in exhaustive detail, what their life was like before coming to Christ – and how being a Christian has transformed them.
As an older man, hearing their stories is painful. It’s painful for them to tell, too. But it’s also profoundly uplifting to witness how unburdened they are now, knowing that their past no longer defines them. They have been forgiven. They have been given new life.
That doesn’t mean their struggles are over. Far from it. Life is difficult. But now, they have Christ’s guidance and the spiritual tools to face it.
As a child, my parents took us to church every Sunday, but I didn’t necessarily live by what I was taught. I was influenced, yes, but that was the extent of it.
That changed when my young family faced extreme difficulties. At my lowest point, I cried out to God – screaming, begging for help. The instructions I received were undeniably from Him, though they were not what I wanted to hear. Still, I followed them, because I had nowhere else to turn.
Through conversations with members of our church, I have found that many of them had similar experiences – moments when God’s presence became undeniable in their lives. The preaching from the pulpit is deeply rooted in Scripture, and the faith within our congregation is palpable.
The fact that 41 of us joined the church at the same time is significant. What life has taught me is that God’s promises are true. He stands by His word.
So yes, as preposterous as it may seem, He did love us enough to allow Himself to be nailed to a cross so that we could start anew.
Why, then, do so many celebrate Christ’s birth, His suffering, His brutal death, and His miraculous resurrection, which we commemorate at Easter? Because through it all, we have been given the opportunity to live full, meaningful lives, free from the burdens of our past. And just as He was resurrected, we, too, have the promise of eternal life.
This not only gives us hope for tomorrow – it grants us freedom and joy today.
What about you? Even if you cannot believe all of this is true, don’t you want to?
Quotes From the Bible
“We were buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” — Romans 6:4
(This verse ties in the theme of renewal and transformation through Christ’s resurrection. )
