Happy Easter

At a charity event I attended recently, one of the speakers, a local girl, talked about her early life when a closet was her favorite place because it was the only place where she felt safe. It was her only escape from the mayhem caused by the beatings inflicted on her mother by her father.
She was 13 when the beatings finally stopped and she had to find a way to put her life back together so she could have a future.

It occurred to me the timing of hearing that student speak was right in line with the Holy Week events honored by Christians remembering the death and subsequent rising of Jesus Christ. It's all about restoration.

Easter Sunday is a day we celebrate as one of new beginnings when all things are new. It's probably no accident that this event comes during a season when vegetation is returning to life. Trees are budding, flowers beginning to show themselves and the air is warming.

Great numbers of us will bow heads Sunday to worship the Son of God who died on the cross to pay for the sins of all humanity. We will marvel that our creator loves us so much he allowed his own son to suffer the humiliation of crucifixion as an offering to reconcile our sinful nature to Him.

That's why the story of Jesus Christ is called "the Good News." In order to be reconciled to God for the everlasting reward of heaven, we need only accept in our hearts that God made this offering for us. That's why we call Jesus "Savior," and that is why Easter is such a huge celebration for Christians.

Without the death and resurrection of Christ, there can be no Christianity.

Lots of religions on this planet worship deities of one sort or another, and with all, the only path to a heavenly reward is through work we do on earth. But our Bible teaches there is nothing we can do to 'earn' a place in heaven. We must accept the free gift of eternal life paid for with the suffering of Jesus Christ.

This Sunday you can find me in church like millions of others who accept the grace of God as a gift. Like the young student whose life has experienced restoration on earth, I find the Christian message of Easter to be good news indeed.

Happy Easter.