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April 2019 Life Lessons

Doug Harrell

As we approach another Easter, I am trying to really get a grasp on the true significance of the event that took place 2019 years ago.  I have been involved in Church all my life and I don’t think I have ever missed being in Church on an Easter morning in my life.  Now I don’t remember the very early years, but knowing mother and dad, I am sure that I was there then as well.  We see the commercial part of Easter with the Easter baskets, the Easter bonnets and fancy dresses and suits that we all used to wear.  I kinda wish we still made the big deal of putting on our very finest for Easter Sunday but that does not happen as much as it once did.  I can remember my mother working so hard to make new dresses for the girls and shirts and pants for us boys at Easter, still have some pictures from long ago that were made up on the hill at Pleasant Grove Church of the Brethren on Easter Morning.

The real importance of Easter goes so much deeper, it is the most defining event in history for the Christian today.  Nothing in history comes even close to the events of that day so many years ago.  The skies turned black and dark, the veil of the temple was rent from top to bottom, the sacrifices of the lambs were no longer needed.  The Lamb of God had been slain and shed his blood that you and I might forever be redeemed, and he arose again on the third day never to die again.  No other religion, no not one, has a living Savior that is still on the throne and will be there forevermore.  The real importance of the resurrection was the establishment of a New Covenant between God and His people, now rather than sacrificing a lamp so blood could be spread on the door post at Passover, the unblemished Lamp of God shed His blood for us.  Rather than killing the fatted calf, it was done on the cross.  Rather than living by the law, we live under the grace.  “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
Ephesians 2:4-10 KJV

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
Titus 2:11-14 KJV

Take time to fill the Easter baskets, dye the eggs and have fun with the children but make sure that you spend time teaching them the real significance of what really took place that 2019 years ago.  Those teachings can last a lifetime, and an eternity, eggs will not.  Give thanks for the precious blood of our Savior so willingly shed for us, give thanks that we will be able to spend eternity in Heaven seated by the throne of God!