But Easter is so much more. In fact bunnies, eggs and candy filled baskets have nothing to do with Easter. I don't often share my personal life and beliefs on this blog. I hope you will bear with me as I do so today. I am unashamedly a Christian. It is not something that I claim in my own pride. It is a priceless gift that I am honored to be called and so unworthy of.
What Christ went through for me is unthinkable. He knew ahead of time all the screw-ups, let downs and outright sins I would commit. He did it anyway. He could have said one word and stopped all the suffering he went through. He did it anyway. He could have spoken the word, and his tormenters would have been dead on the ground. He did it anyway.
Whether you chose to believe or not, He did it anyway...for you, for me, for every human who ever lived or ever will live. Such love is unfathomable. Whether you choose to believe or not, you need to know that Someone loves you that much. Amazing.
I've embedded a clip from the Passion of Christ starring Mel Gibson. It is extremely graphic and very upsetting. If you have a weak stomach, you may not wish to view it. I had to turn away at times. I cried. But it is the truth of what Easter is really all about. The crucifixion was horrifying, but Easter is about the Ressurection.
Jesus didn't stay in the grave. He rose again. Because of that, if we choose to believe in him, turn from our sin and accept his free gift of Salvation, we too will rise again. Forever is a long time. Never ending. How you will spend it depends on one decision. Will you follow him or not? For me, the alternative is unimaginable. We tend to think of hell more as a swear word than an actual place. Hell will be unbearable, and yet many will have to bear it...forever. Never ending. But it doesn't have to be that way. Jesus gave us all a way out. But we have to accept it.
If you think you can't because you don't deserve it, you are right. None of us do. "But," you say, "my sin is too great, God will never love me." He does anyway. He gave up his only Son because he loved you so much, no matter what you've done.
You say you don't want to be lumped in with a pack of hypocrites who go to church on Sunday and turn around on Monday and go right on sinning. There will always be hypocrites. There were plenty in Jesus time and there are plenty now. It doesn't matter. It isn't about them. It's about you and Him and your eternal life.
You say you don't want to be a part of so called Christians who act all holier than thou. Then don't be holier than thou. Yes there are so called Christians like that, but there are also many who are not. They realize we are just sinners saved by Grace. And we still screw-up sometimes, because we're human.
Don't let false Christians turn you off to the One who truly loves you. In the end it doesn't matter about them. What matters is whether you have accepted Him or not.
If you dare, watch this video and think about the sacrifice this Man made for you. Whether you choose to believe or not, you at least need to know what He did for you. You need to know how very much He loves you.
If you made it this far, thanks for listening. You, my readers mean so much to me. I am not here to judge you whether you believe or not. I just wanted to share this greatest of love with you, and let you know I love you too.
Blessings,
Thank you for this beautiful post, this is the most glorious day of the year! Thank you Lord for what you have done for us!
ReplyDeleteDear Deborah, Amen my friend. What a wonderful post. In fact, it is so good I read it to my husband and he said Amen too. My family and I all saw the movie when it came out and was moved to tears too. Like you said, HE did it anyway so we might have internal life, if only we believe and except Christ as our savior. I am so thankful for HIS grace.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your heart on this special day my friend.
Wishing you the blessings only God can give.
Love to you!
This is a wonderful post,Deborah. Amen to all that you said. I do think that they are Christians that turn others off because they are so adamant in their beliefs and pushing it down someone's throat. We used to call them Christians that were so Heavenwardly bound that they were no earthly good. lol yeah- I know- NOT very Christian of me...lol Blessings to you-again- great post- xo Diana
ReplyDeleteAmazing grace! Thank you for sharing this well-written, and so very true post. God bless you, Deborah. Hugs, Nancy
ReplyDeleteI have this movie, and never grow tired of watching it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for writing this post Debbie. It was definitely spirit breathed, and you were the obedient servant delivering the message. Praise God for your boldness in Christ!!
Love In Christ Jesus.
Debbie
xo
I LOVE that cross! So cool...
ReplyDeleteI cry when I watch that clip too...it really makes you think about what REALLY happened that day so long ago...what a priceless gift...