Here at the brink of Easter the world teeters on the brink between death and life: fuzzy\u00a0baby animals\u00a0and pastel colors rioting everywhere against the matted brown remnants\u00a0of Winter. And a person could feel overwhelmed at the rubble of brokenness, at all the things that don’t work right in this world. There isn’t one of us who hasn’t felt the weight of Adam’s\u00a0curse in ways large and small, and maybe that’s why we plunge so eagerly into the glut of the calendar holidays, to forget just for awhile the aches and pains,\u00a0the way relationships can get so tricky, the\u00a0masks we wear and the walls we hide behind, all the little distractions that tangle around the feet of\u00a0those who run. But here just before\u00a0Easter Sunday (if you have the eyes to see it) life and death hang in the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And here at Easter is the crux of the matter– all the Earth’s history and future summed up, condensed into one wrenching weekend. The world that was spoken into existence by God’s Word and broken by man’s rebellion lives in feverish denial of its sickness and in dread of death to come. The eternal living Word that entered our world dies at its hands (carrying all of its brokenness on His shoulders), and then just walks out of it again. And God’s creation groans and heaves in the cataclysm. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) <\/em>Here at the cross, life and death lay at Jesus’ feet. <\/em>Jesus is living proof that there is nothing that God’s love and forgiveness cannot accomplish for us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Easter is the one holiday we need to remember all year. Death is not the same terrible enemy. And Life is not the same futile effort. Now all of God’s promises to us are coming true in Jesus. Now there is always Hope. “I…pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God\u2019s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God\u2019s right hand in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 1:19-20)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n ~~~~~~~<\/p>\n\n\n\n Great is Your faithfulness, oh God;<\/em> ~~~~~~~<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. \u00a0I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.\u2019 <\/em><\/p>Ezekiel 37:4-6<\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Here at the brink of Easter the world teeters on the brink between death and life: fuzzy\u00a0baby animals\u00a0and pastel colors rioting everywhere against the matted brown remnants\u00a0of Winter. And a person could feel overwhelmed at the rubble of brokenness, at … Continue reading
You wrestle with the sinner’s heart.<\/em>
You lead us by still waters and to mercy,<\/em>
And nothing can keep us apart.<\/em>
So remember Your people,<\/em>
Remember Your children,<\/em>
Remember Your promise, oh God…<\/em>
Your grace is enough for me.<\/em>
<\/p>Matt Maher<\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n