E A S T E R
HOLIDAYS OR HOLY DAYS?
As we approach this Easter time what do you think about? Perhaps your thoughts turn to a break from work - a few days' holiday. But did you know that the word holiday comes from the Anglo-Saxon word "hæligdæg" which means "holy day"? And at this time of year when Christians think of the Death and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, wouldn't it be right to consider the real meaning behind the celebration of this event and turn what have become mere holidays into holy days?
There are two holidays in our calendar which remind us of what God has done for us. The first, and the one most people would think of, is Christmas, when God sent His Son and Saviour into the world. But the second and most amazing is that at Easter we celebrate the Death of God the Son. Strange you may think! Why should we celebrate someone's death? Well, that's simple! It's because Christ's death was not the end of the story. The grave could not hold Jesus Christ. He conquered Death and came back to life! But why did He do it? Why go through the shame and agony of dying on a Roman cross in order to rise again from the dead? Well, He did it for me and He did it for you. Yes, for you!
Several hundred years before the birth of Christ the prophet Isaiah wrote about Jesus thus: "But He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him and by his wounds we are healed." Yes, He bore your burden of sin. All the bad things you have ever done or thought or said will be forgiven completely by God if you will just ask Him to forgive you and tell Him that you are sorry. But that is not all. There is much more. At that first Easter, Jesus Christ conquered both Sin and Death. He is now alive and offers you today a new life in Him. Of Himself He said, "I am the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25). His offer of life, the only life worth living, is expressed by Jesus in the following verse: "I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full." (John10:10). And the Apostle Paul addressing the early Church at Corinth said, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Cor. 5:17)
So won't you make these Easter holidays special by turning to the living, risen Jesus? Ask Him for this new life which only He can offer. Please don't let this time pass by as just another holiday but rather make it the most HOLY DAY of your life.
Easter eggs are supposed to represent new life but I've realised that a lot of Easter eggs remind me of people's lives in a different way. They are nicely decorated, tasty on the outside and may be quite enjoyable but once broken and you look on the inside there's nothing - it's empty, hollow, meaningless and lonely.
Without the true meaning of Easter life is like that - empty! No I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with the nice things that make up our lives, but at this Easter time I want you to look within. Is your life empty, without true meaning? Does the loneliness get too much at times? Then fill it this Easter. Not with more outer shell luxuries and treats - but with Jesus, the One Who came to show you what life is all about. He says: "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10.
The reason we feel empty inside is that we're not able to have an intimate relationship with God because sin has got in the way. The inner selfishness of our hearts makes it impossible for us, by ourselves, to have the relationship with God that He created us to have. But God has made it possible for us to come to Him through His Son, Jesus. In His death on the Cross Jesus took all our sins upon Himself and through the resurrection He conquered the power of sin and death in order that through Him we can be free from sin and come back to God.
All we have to do is to tell Jesus how very sorry we are for all our selfishness, our wrong thoughts, words and deeds and ask Him to come and live within us. He will forgive us all our wrongs and fill our lives with Him. Then for you the Easter egg will no longer represent an empty shell but a new, full life in Christ.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17
Don't be an empty shell! Fill your life with Jesus!
Diane G Nimmo © 2001
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