After Life

As much as anyone may love Christmas, Easter is perhaps the most important day of celebration on our calendar. Even as a child, I knew that there was something special about Christmas. Something that was deeper and more significant than the lights on the tree, the music that is played, delicious desserts, and wonderful gifts. It was the baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in the manger. God our Savior had actually come, in the likeness of mankind with the intent to save us from our sins. But what if all He did was come? What if all He did was teach and reveal truths about who He was and about eternity? And what if the cross was the end of the story? The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 15 that, “… if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.” But He did come, He did die, and He did rise again from the dead. The glorious thing about easter, or what I like to call Resurrection Sunday, is that we are reminded every year just how powerful God is and how much hope He wants us to have in the life that is to come.

I love what the apostle Peter says in the Bible, that they did not follow cunningly devised fables but that they were eyewitnesses of the life and resurrection of Christ. John says that he wrote about the things that were heard, seen, and even handled… not a made-up fairytales. There is even a record of Jesus being seen by over 500 people, all at once, AFTER His crucifixion and burial. Let’s not forget that easter is not just about kids finding the eggs… it is about the Risen Savior.

I pray that your life is not lived from one event to the next. Hopscotching your way from presents at Christmas, something romantic for Valentine’s Day, bunnies and eggs at easter, and fireworks for the 4th of July. Don’t get me wrong, The Lord deeply desires that our lives would be full of joy and admiration. But in the end, when we reach our final day here on earth, there must be more. Your sins must be dealt with. Either by yourself in eternal judgment, or through faith in Christ and what He did on the cross. The hope of a joyous, forgiven life in eternity must NOT be in how good of a person you are, or if you have followed the right rules. Eternal hope comes from putting your trust fully in the death AND resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Bible says that these things were written so that you may know and have confidence in eternal life. If you do not personally know that you are forgiven or if you have questions, please find a good Bible-teaching church and check it out or feel free to give us a call. We are praying for you and for all of those in the Treasure Valley. (208) 329-5144