Its obvious to the world that Christians are getting ready to celebrate Easter – the time where Christians celebrate and remember the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. On television, we see the annual parade of Christian and Easter centered shows, the never-ending rows of Easter baskets and candy at the local Wal-mart, and the never-ending barrage of the critics of Easter who correctly point out that Easter was celebrated long before the death of Christ. It is important to realize that in their attempt to shatter what they consider the myth of Jesus, they actually miss the simple message of the Cross; this should come as no surprise as the apostle Paul wrote, But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness (I Corinthians 1:23).
For many, celebrating Easter means that family gathers around the dinner table, egg hunts, and a sunrise Easter service. Lip service is made to what Easter is with little evidence of the actual meaning of the cross evident in their lives. During a world civilization class one afternoon about six years ago, I was asked a question by a student that really got me thinking. She asked “why are some people so devoted to a religion that offers them no hope, no security, and yet will devote their entire life and being to it?” I do not remember the answer I gave her, but I do remember considering the opposite question: “why are some people unwilling to be totally devoted to the worship of the Lord Jesus Christ who offers a hope, unconditional forgiveness, and an eternal security?” Its because we fail to understand the very nature of the cross.
Christianity is not merely a belief in God – as too often many of us believe it to be. We have been raised and educated in a society where we have been told to leave our faith at home or in the walls of our church. We have been told that we do have the “right” to worship, but the privilege of worshiping and honoring God has been removed through the guise of political correctness. If we are to really see the spiritual growth and fulfillment that we long to see in our lives, we must allow ourselves to become consumed in the meaning of the cross. After we have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior we are renewed, or as the apostle Paul wrote, Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (II Corinthians 5:17).
In my own life, although I had fully accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior, I tried to retain all that I had been taught from the world before. I believed the lies of this world that I had to keep my faith hidden except when around other Christians and only in the confines of church or church related activities. I was afraid to take opportunities to tell others about the love of Jesus Christ because of not wanting to be offensive. What I did not and would not understand for nearly two decades is that I was doing the very thing that Christ had warned us against: No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (Matthew 6:24).
