Easter With a Purpose

What do you think of when you think of Easter?  The obvious thought I think of is of a loving God who sent his son to die on a cross for us, was buried and three days later rose again.  But what does all of that mean for us and what should our responce look like?  The apostle Paul gives us a bit of insight through the life of none other than the patriarch Abraham of all people.

Romans chapter 4 is written in reference to Abraham, a testament to his faithfulness and trust in God. Paul writes to the Romans of Abraham, “Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God.” (Rom 4:20)  In other words, Abraham lacked all of the answers and yet in faith he continued to follow God. 

Romans 4:23-25
23 Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, 24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.
(NASU)

What an incredible thought that such a thing can be written about Abraham thousands of years before the death of Christ and then be credited to those of us some two thousand years later who “believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.”  Do we have all the answers?  NO!  And yet we are called to the same faith Abraham was called to. 

Keeping this faith in mind however, we also should be reminded that there is nothing, absolutely nothing that any one of us could do to make ourselves right before a holy and righteous God.  Paul also wrote to the Romans:

"Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation.  However, to the man who does not work but trust God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness." 

(Rom 4:4-5, NIV)

Where then is our faith so firmly placed?  It is in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the promise that comes with it.  The very fact of the matter is that if there were no resurrection, there is then no justification. This Easter morning we received a reminder of this very thing.

To often the resurrection power of Christ is overlooked and yet it is that very resurrection that provides for our justification. My question for each one of us then is this; will we waver in unbelief regarding what Christ accomplished on the cross and through His resurrection or will we be strengthened in our faith and give glory to God? My prayer is that the latter would be true for each one of us who claim to know Christ and that we would boldly proclaim this message to a lost and dying world.  I pray this would be not only a day of celebration but that it would become for all of us Easter with a purpose.

We live in a very needy world and there is much work to be done. HAPPY EASTER!