Just some early morning thoughts from me to you…

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
John 3: 16-17 (ESV)

Happy Easter. Why? Why do we say that? 

Merry Christmas. Why do we say that? Let me leave that for another time.

So, then—Happy Easter. The tomb is empty. Christ is Risen. 

And so—Happy Easter, right? Easter Sunrise services, church services, dinner with family and friends. 

I read a quote not too long ago which pulled me into a prolonged pause—

“There is absolutely nothing more important in your life right now than making sure that you know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord.”

Then shortly thereafter, I read this quote—

“Worried about dying? Don’t. We will live forever. 
All we have to consider is our choice of—location.”

Then remembering James’ letter in the New Testament where he points out that we are not promised the next day, let alone the next hour, I stopped for a moment.

There’s the answer. That’s why we say—Happy Easter. 

Because on Good Friday the power of what Christ did for us on the Cross offered us the pathway to choose our final location when our life here on earth is over.

Our pathway to salvation, by our choice of the location of eternity with God in Heaven.

But like the disciples back then, along with some folks today, there is a struggle to believe what Christ said He would do in three days.

The Reverend Billy Graham was often heard to say that we are not called to understand the mind and workings of God in our lives and in the world, but we are called to believe.

Easter with the empty tomb of the Risen Christ—shows us that we can believe.

Do family, friends, and others believe? Or is it just membership somewhere. Words, but not a change of heart, and a surrender and following. 

Our belief. Our choice. 

Maybe we won’t ever be able to understand why Christ would pay much too high a price for us. But maybe we should just accept the fact that He did. With His life, on the Cross. For you and me. Maybe we can just call it—love. 

Leaving us, then, to simply believe what Christ did for you, and for me, for others, on the Cross. And why.

Believing in, and accepting Him, for what He did on the Cross for our Salvation—claiming Him then as our Savior—so we are then saved from perishing and assured of eternal life with Him.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.”    
John 3: 16-17 (ESV)

In the song by Brooks and Dunn, “Believe,” they share these words of hope, direction, and belief leading to the choice assuring our salvation—

“I raise my hands, bow my head.
I’m findin’ more and more truth in the words written in red.
They tell me that there’s more to life than just what I can see.
I can’t quote the good book, don’t know the chapter or verse,
You can’t tell me this all ends in a slow ride in a hearse.
You know I’m more and more convinced, the longer that I live,
This can’t be, no, this can’t be, no, this can’t be, no, this can’t be all there is.
Lord, I raise my hands, I raise my hands, I bow my head.
Oh, I’m findin’ more and more truth in the words written in red.
They tell me that there’s more to this life, to this life,
Than just what I can see. I believe.
Oh, I, I believe, I believe…”

Happy Easter. Time to believe. Time to choose. 

That’s why we say, “Happy Easter!” 

So, Happy Easter! 

Believe. Choose.

In His Name–Scott

You will be blessed again, and again listening to Brooks and Dunn, joined by Jelly Roll, singing their song “Believe.”