Easter Thoughts – No Bunnies, Chicks or Eggs… OK, Maybe Some Chicks :)

Easter Thoughts.

We went to the cutest country church a few years ago.  A friend of ours was in seminary and pastoring at this church while finishing his studies.  We attended there for a time and enjoyed it so much. It was a teeny, tiny thing of a church with mostly older members.  Our friend (the temporary pastor) has since graduated and moved away.   Our children are turning into big people and we wanted a church home with a larger “kid” population.  We want our kids to be able to connect with other kids their age.  So, we don’t attend the little country church anymore, but we still love it.

It was called Corn Creek Baptist Church. Isn’t that funny?  It looks just like you think it should.  White church, perfect steeple,  prominent cross on top. Precious.

One of the most memorable things about this little church was the creek.  Corn Creek of course.  It ran just behind the church.  There was no baptistry in the church.  We were told by the older members that they historically baptized people in the creek, so there was no need for a baptistry in the church.

Uh…… no thanks.  I love Jesus, but I don’t want to be baptized in a creek.  My baby was baptized in a stock tank by DH.  I could be talked into that – but a creek… No thanks.  Not for me.

One of the sermons Brother Ben preached while he was leading Corn Creek was one I’ll never forget.

In Order for You to Live – Something Must Die.

Things die every day so we can live.

Chickens, pigs, cows, lamb – they all die to provide us with meat to eat – so we can live.

Bro. Ben even pointed out that the most devoted vegetarian is responsible for death.  If you don’t eat animals, it doesn’t exempt you from this law.  If you eat salad – that lettuce plant was killed so you could live.

Every vegetable, fruit, herb and plant that is eaten for food has stopped living to provide you with nutrition.

Even bread, pasta, rice and beans were all alive once.

Eggs, nuts, seeds and berries all die when we eat them.  They die so we can have life.

Coffee, juice, sugar, corn syrup- it’s amazing.  All the foods I eat die so that I can live.

As I write this I am thinking of all the foods I eat and the only foods I can think of that are not “dying” when they become food are:  dairy products, honey, syrup and minerals.

In Order for You to Live – Something Must Die.

This is the story of salvation. This is the story of redemption.  This is the story of the cross.

Just like something must die each time we sit down to a meal so we can live – Something must die so we can have eternal life.

Still confused?

We have all blown it.  Some of us are better at blowing it than others (like me).

The Bible calls this “sin.”  It just means we’ve missed the mark.  We are not perfect.  We mess up.  We are selfish (that’s me).  We are prideful (me again).  We fail to do what we should do (me).  We do things we shouldn’t do (ugh).

Let me tell you what folks – I deserve to go to Hell forever.  It’s true.  I’m selfish, I’m critical.  I’m judgemental.  I’m a complainer.  I’m a whiner.  I don’t do what I should.  I do do what I shouldn’t.  I try, but I fail.  I do not deserve heaven.  I have failed my wonderful God and continue to disappoint Him daily.  Sorry, God.

Why then, am I not going to Hell?  Because someone died so I can have life.  Yay!  Praise Jesus!

Jesus died on a cross 2000 years ago.  He paid the price for all my sins.  He took my punishment.

We can’t both die for my sins.  Either Jesus paid for my sins, or I will.

By thanking Him, and believing that He died for me, and trusting that my sins are forgiven through that work on the cross I am “Justified.”

Romans 5:4,  “But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.”

Justification is a fancy “bible” word that means, “Just as if you never” sinned.  Because Jesus took my punishment it is just as if I never sinned.  When God looks at me He doesn’t see all the messes I’ve made and all my wrong-doings.

There are 2 camps:

1. Workers:  People trying to “work” their way to heaven – they are trying to earn God’s grace.  They are trying to make him happy. They are trying to appease Him.  They never know if they have done enough.  They are not at peace.
2. Believers:  People who have accepted God’s free gift of salvation.  They believed.  They are resting.  They are at peace.

You are either working or resting.

You can’t do both.

Working doesn’t work.  We can never do enough “good things” to offset our sins.  We can’t appease God.  We can’t please Him.  We can’t “work” our way to heaven.

Ephesians 2:8, “God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.”

I am so glad I don’t have to “work” my way to heaven.

I am so glad God made it so simple to be forgiven.  He provided the perfect solution to our sin problem.

In Order for You to Live – Something Must Die.

In Order for You to Have Eternal Life – Jesus Died. 

Happy Easter Everyone!

Love,

Candi