Charles Adams
04-16-2006, 01:07 PM
There are those who believe. . .
It's Easter once again, and this is a good time of year to talk about what we believe. But does belief really matter? It?s easy to argue that just about everything is relative. ?You have your truth and I have mine.? Isn?t that what everyone says these days?
Fortunately, when it comes to Easter there is no need to get complicated. That?s because when it comes to the subject of Christ, what you believe really doesn?t matter ? what you accept is all that matters.
It?s easy to accept that Christ was born. There are plenty of people who readily admit He existed, so no argument there. It?s also easy to accept that, on Good Friday some 2000 years ago, Jesus was crucified and died a terrible death. No argument there, either.
So, what is there to talk about? How about why He was killed and what happened next ? that?s where the whole debate begins. If what we believe doesn?t really matter, however, then things get simplified quite a bit.
Either you accept that Jesus is God, that He died for you and is risen, or you don?t. That?s all there is to it! You can sit on the fence about a lot of things in life, but not this. Each of us has to pick a side. Either Christ is who He says He is, or he was a fraud and a liar.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
John 10:27
For those who can?t quite make up their minds and prefer to weigh the evidence, consider that the founder of modern archeology set out to prove that the Bible was false and ended up converting to Christianity. After much study, this scientist concluded it was all real! A century ago, a group of lawyers met in England because they wanted to see if enough information was available to make a case that would hold up in a court of law. They concluded that Christ's resurrection was one of the most well-established facts of history.
At this time of year, just as at Christmas, you are reminded that you must make a choice. If you accept that Christ was God come to earth in the form of a man to be sacrificed in order to pay for your sins, that you might live forever, then you?ll understand that Easter is not about celebrating Spring. It's not about eggs or bunny rabbits. It's about something far more important! What the world values most -- money, power, possessions, nature and created things -- all these are temporal and will pass away. That which really matters is that which is eternal.
Eternal life is a gift ? it is free! This is a concept that makes little sense in our crazy, mixed-up world. I hope and pray it makes sense for you this day. Happy Easter! :)
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain. . .
.
John 15:11-16
It's Easter once again, and this is a good time of year to talk about what we believe. But does belief really matter? It?s easy to argue that just about everything is relative. ?You have your truth and I have mine.? Isn?t that what everyone says these days?
Fortunately, when it comes to Easter there is no need to get complicated. That?s because when it comes to the subject of Christ, what you believe really doesn?t matter ? what you accept is all that matters.
It?s easy to accept that Christ was born. There are plenty of people who readily admit He existed, so no argument there. It?s also easy to accept that, on Good Friday some 2000 years ago, Jesus was crucified and died a terrible death. No argument there, either.
So, what is there to talk about? How about why He was killed and what happened next ? that?s where the whole debate begins. If what we believe doesn?t really matter, however, then things get simplified quite a bit.
Either you accept that Jesus is God, that He died for you and is risen, or you don?t. That?s all there is to it! You can sit on the fence about a lot of things in life, but not this. Each of us has to pick a side. Either Christ is who He says He is, or he was a fraud and a liar.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
John 10:27
For those who can?t quite make up their minds and prefer to weigh the evidence, consider that the founder of modern archeology set out to prove that the Bible was false and ended up converting to Christianity. After much study, this scientist concluded it was all real! A century ago, a group of lawyers met in England because they wanted to see if enough information was available to make a case that would hold up in a court of law. They concluded that Christ's resurrection was one of the most well-established facts of history.
At this time of year, just as at Christmas, you are reminded that you must make a choice. If you accept that Christ was God come to earth in the form of a man to be sacrificed in order to pay for your sins, that you might live forever, then you?ll understand that Easter is not about celebrating Spring. It's not about eggs or bunny rabbits. It's about something far more important! What the world values most -- money, power, possessions, nature and created things -- all these are temporal and will pass away. That which really matters is that which is eternal.
Eternal life is a gift ? it is free! This is a concept that makes little sense in our crazy, mixed-up world. I hope and pray it makes sense for you this day. Happy Easter! :)
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain. . .
.
John 15:11-16