In 286 A.D. there was a legion of soldiers containing only Christians. The legion was called the Theban Legion because the men were raised in Thebes. The emperor, Maximian, ordered them to march to Gaul to assist him against the rebels of Burgundy. They passed the Alps into Gaul, under the command of Mauritius, Candidus, and Exupernis and finally joined the emperor.
Maximian ordered a general sacrifice at which the whole army was to assist. He also commanded that they should take an oath of allegiance, and swear at the same time, to assist in the extermination of Christianity in Gaul.
Alarmed at these orders, each individual of the Theban Legion absolutely refused to either sacrifice or take the oaths. Maximian was angered and ordered the legion to be decimated, that is, every tenth man was to be killed by the sword. Those who remained alive were still inflexible, so a 2nd decimation took place. The 2nd made no more impression than the first. Maximian then ordered the whole legion to be put to death. The order was executed by the other troops. They cut them to pieces with their swords. This took place on September 22, in the year 286 (Fox's Book of Martyrs).
We could marvel and say, ":Super-human!" It was super-human. God honored their faith and gave them the strength and courage to face the ultimate test for Him.
Through Faith You Can Receive Courage, Confidence and Vision
Faith is the basis of the Christian experience. Faith is at the heart of the Christian mission. Jesus told his followers to disciple the world for him (Matthew 28:18-20). We could say, "Impossible!" However, Jesus did not ask us to judge how practical it might be, but simply to do it. He assures us of his continued presence, and through faith, we can overcome whatever obstacles may stand in the way.
In the apostle Paul's letter to the Romans (In the New Testament of the Bible) we find that the righteous will live by faith.
Jesus tells us to have faith and never doubt. We are to exercise our faith. One day when Jesus was talking to his disciples, he said "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt ... you can say to this mountain, 'Go throw yourself into the sea,& and it will be done" (Matthew 21:21).
Jesus taught his disciples that the mountainous obstacles can be removed through faith. This faith refers to an absolute trust in God. This can only happen for a person who has trusted his or her life into the hands of the loving Savior, God's Son.
The Son of God is the One who came to live among us (God in human form). He lived a perfect life and then offered himself as a sacrifice to atone for our sins. After he was buried, he was raised back to life on the third day. After appearing to his disciples for another forty days, he ascended into heaven. Some day, before the end of the world, he will return. Our calendar is dated based on the birth of Jesus Christ into this world.
God did not promise to remove all of our trials and Jesus did not leave us alone to face them. But he promises himself to be with us that the trials might be shifted to a less significant position in our minds. He will help us to face them with clear minds and a less anxious heart. Then we will be free to do what he has told us to do. We will be able to see beyond our mountains and overcome them through an exercise of faith. After Jesus told his followers to disciple the world, he said, "I am with you always, to the very end of the age" -- that is, the age of this world (Matthew 28:20).
Through Faith You Can Face the Future with Victory Assured
Daniel Boone, a well known early pioneer in America, once expressed a type of faith that doesn't give up, but rather maintains a positive outlook. When asked whether he had ever been lost in any of his wilderness journeys, Boone answered, "No, I have never been lost, but I was greatly bewildered one time for 3 days."
There may have been many times of frustration in the past, and probably will be in the future -- times when you cannot understand why things did not go according to your best-laid plans -- times when you cannot figure out what God is doing. But exercise those spiritual muscles (faith). Keep your faith strong. God is on His throne and He is in control!
There was a tightrope walker, who did incredible aerial feats. All over Paris, he would do tightrope acts at tremendously scary heights. Then he had succeeding acts; he would do it blindfolded, then he would go across the tightrope blindfolded and pushing a wheelbarrow.
An American promoter read about this in the papers and wrote a letter to the tightrope walker, saying, "Tightrope, I don't believe you can do it, but I'm willing to make you an offer. For a very substantial sum of money, besides all your transportation fees, I would like to challenge you to do your act over Niagara Falls."
Tightrope wrote back, "Sir, although I've never been to America and seen the Falls, I' love to come."
After a lot of promotion and setting the whole thing up, many people came to see the event. Tightrope was to start on the Canadian side and come to the United States side. Drums roll. Then he starts across the rope which is suspended over the treacherous part of the falls -- blindfolded! And he makes it across easily. The crowds go wild, and he comes to the promoter and says, "Well, Mr. Promoter, now do you believe I can do it?"
"Well of course I do. I mean, I just saw you do it."
"No," said Tightrope, "do you really believe I can do it?"
"Well of course I do, you just did it."
"No, no, no," said Tightrope, "do you believe I can do it?"
"Yes," said Mr. Promoter, "I believe you can do it."
"Good," said Tightrope, "then you get in the wheelbarrow."
The word "believe" in the New Testament carries the meaning "to live by." This is a nice story that you have just read. It raises the question, how often do we say that we believe Christ can do it, but refuse to get in the wheelbarrow?
Faith is a commitment. It requires your involvement. It is not passive, but active. One cannot maintain a strong faith that overcomes the world while remaining on the sidelines. We need to climb into Christ's wheelbarrow.
With real faith in God through Jesus Christ His Son, you can look forward to a life of victory. Through him you can overcome every trial that life and the devil throw at you. That is the way to victorious living.
But this kind of faith must have a starting point.
The Victorious Life is Available to You
Jesus has already atoned for your sins. You just need to accept what he has done. You do this by letting go of the world and letting Jesus Christ have control of you life. In return, he will give you eternal life. When you die you will go to heaven, instead of the eternal burning hell awaiting you without Christ. He will also make available to you a full and meaningful life here on this earth.
You do not become a Christian by being born into a Christian family or because you are from a certain part of the world. Only those who have made a personal decision to let Christ have control of their lives are Christians. It is a choice for every individual. Until a person reaches the age that he or she has the ability to know right from wrong and that doing wrong is a sin against God, that person is safe. After that, if a decision for Christ is not made, that person becomes lost, because he or she has, in effect, rejected Christ. Young children are safe. But an age is reached when a decision for or against Christ must be made.
Here's how you receive Jesus Christ and his salvation. First, acknowledge that you are a sinner. Even Christians are sinners saved by God's grace. The Bible tells us that every one of us has sinned.
Second, confess your sin to God and turn from your sin to Him. Repentance is the experiencing a deep sorrow for your sinful life and turning from it to God. In this process you confess your sins to God.
Third, invite Jesus Christ to come into your life and save you and to be the Master of your life. The way you do this is to talk with God. He is right where you are. He even knows your thoughts and the yearnings of your heart. Just talk to Him. Tell Him that you are sinful and ashamed of your sins, that you ask His forgiveness and that you want His Son Jesus Christ to take charge of your life. After you do this, you will want to thank Him for saving you.
The prayer could be something like this: "Dear Father in heaven, the Creator of the universe, I have sinned against you and I am deeply sorry. I now turn from my sinful life to you, so please forgive me of my sins and save me. I invite your Son, Jesus Christ into my life to take charge of it. Let it be. It is in the name of Jesus, Your Son, my Savior that I pray, Amen."
A prayer of thanks could simply be added to the previous prayer or prayed separately such as this: "Dear Father in heaven, thank you for loving me enough to send your Son to atone for my sins. I thank Jesus Christ for his love that took him to the cross on which he died and for his victory over the grave. Thank you for saving me. I ask for courage and strength to remain strong and faithful to you. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ my Savior, Amen.
When you were saved, Jesus, through his Holy Spirit came to live within you. He is always present to help you understand God's ways, to know right from wrong, to encourage you and to help you understand God's message to you in the Bible.
Now, find a church where Jesus Christ is preached and be baptized and serve Christ as he leads you. If there is any way I can help you locate a church, just send me a note from the Contact Us page of this website.
If you need additional help with a decision for Christ, let me know.
Also, I would like to know if you have made a decision. I will be encouraged by your action and I can keep you in my prayers. God hears and answers prayers.
God bless you. Go to church Sunday.
-- Don
What happened to the great city of Ephesus? Often mentioned in the New Testament of the Bible, it was one of the cultural and commercial centers of its day. Located at the mouth of the Cayster River, it was noted for its bustling harbors, its broad avenues, its gymnasiums, its baths, its huge amphitheater, and especially its magnificent temple of Diana. What happened to bring about its gradual decline until its harbor was no longer crowded with ships and the city was no longer a flourishing metropolis? Was it hit by plagues, destroyed by enemies, or demolished by earthquakes? No, silt was the reason for its downfall -- silent and non-violent silt. Over the years, fine sedimentary particles slowly filled up the harbor, separating the city from the economic life of the sea traders.
Little evil practices, little acts of disobedience may seem harmless. But let the silt of sin gradually accumulate, and we will find ourselves far from God. Life will become a spiritual ruin. In the Bible we are warned of the danger of "the deceitfulness of sin" (Hebrews 3:13). The Bible also says that the attractive pleasures of sin are really a mask covering death (James 1:15).
Actually all of us have let the silt invade our lives, separating us from God. We don't even notice it. We tend to look at ourselves and feel that we are in charge. We think that we do not need God. We can direct our own lives. We are self-sufficient. Just like the city of Ephesus, we see our own "glory" and assume that all is well. But the silt keeps building up. It destroys our lives and separates us from God.
Even when God gets us out of trouble or sends a special blessing, we tend to explain it away and take credit ourselves or attribute it to the effort of another person. God is not considered as the source.
An example of this is seen in the book of Acts (in the Bible). Two of Jesus' disciples, Peter and John, went to the temple at the time of prayer. A lame man had been carried to one of the gates where he sat begging for money. When Peter and John arrived, Peter told the man, "We don't have any money, but we will give you what we have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk! (paraphrased)" Then Peter took the man by the right hand and helped him up. The man followed them into the temple area walking and jumping and praising God. The Lord God had healed and strengthened his legs and ankles. But guess what happened. The people were amazed and wanted to give Peter and John the credit, instead of God. Peter preached them a sermon and set things straight. The man was healed by God, not by them.
We have all ignored God and gone our own way. The Bible, in Romans 3:23, says "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 3:10 says, "There is no one righteous, not even one."
Is there any way of escape? The Bible says, "The wages of sin is death" (speaking of spiritual death with hell as the destiny). In many places God's word gives the same warning. But there is a way out of this dilemma.
First, we must recognize our sin. In the above incident, Peter saw his listeners as people who were gullible to the acts of man but insensitive to the acts of God. They were proud of their heritage and proud of their good works. They looked to the Law and said with pride, "We are law-abiding people."
Pride takes our eyes off of God and places them on man. The attitude of Peter's audience is symptomatic of what is wrong with people in general.
In the U.S., we see a nation that is advanced in scientific technology, agriculture, industry, space exploration, education, and free enterprise. Our attitude tends to be that there is nothing we cannot do if we set our minds to it. We are our own gods.
As individuals, people tend to excuse their misdeeds or even take pride in them and simply say they are expressions of freedom.
Peter had to drive home to his listeners that they were a sinful people. The nation had sinned in rejecting God's message through the prophets and putting to death the Son of God. The individual hearers had participated in the same sins. They had turned their backs on the Son of God. Each and every one of them had the blood of Christ on his/her hands. Everyone was guilty. The same is true of us today.
Each individual must recognize his/her own sin. This was uppermost in the mind of Peter. It is the first step toward salvation.
The second step to salvation is repentance. When I speak of salvation, I mean eternal life in heaven with God, where life will be far more wonderful than it could ever be on earth. Death is not the end. Every person will spend eternity in heaven or hell. Living a good life will not get you to heaven, so read on. Also we are saved to a full and meaningful life while here on earth.
Peter not only pointed out his listeners' sins, he called them to repentance. They were to turn from their sins to God. God had not left them, or us, without any ray of hope. God has provided a way for us to pass from a state of condemnation to salvation. Repentance is a turning from the self-centered life to Christ. It involves a godly sorrow for your sins -- sorrow that causes you to turn from self to God.
1 Corinthians 7:10 (in the Bible) says, "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret."
The final step to salvation is acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord of your life. Godly repentance leads to this. Jesus is God's Son who came to earth for the purpose of revealing God more fully to us and to offer himself as a sacrifice for our sins. Accepting Jesus sacrifice and recognizing him as Lord of your life is to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior. This is the only way you will ever escape hell and enter heaven. After death, there is no transferring from one place to the other. Your choice in this matter is permanent and eternal. Your salvation is not a result of your righteousness, but is a free gift based on Jesus' righteousness. He never sinned and was the perfect sacrifice. God raised him from the grave and he even taught people here on earth for forty days between his resurrection and his ascention into heaven. He lives!
Romans 6:23 says, "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
When you receive Jesus as Savior, He takes your sins upon himself, covering them by his sacrifice. He imputes his righteousness upon you. Clothed in his righteousness, you stand before God as righteous, not because of your righteousness, but his. When you die you are qualified to enter heaven.
All of this does not mean that you will not sin again. We all fall flat on our faces. We do things we know are not right and we fail to do what we know we should do. God does not kick us out of His family for this. However, we should repent of our sin and ask God's forgiveness. When a child does something wrong, good parents do not kick him/her out of the family, but it means a lot to the parents for the child to say, "I'm sorry, please forgive me." It also means much to God when we do the same.
As a Christian, you will try to live your life in a way that pleases God. When you accept Jesus as Savior, God sends his Holy Spirit to live within you. The Holy Spirit will guide your conscience to help you know what is right and empower you to live as God's faithful servant.
The Bible will instruct you in God's way. The New Testament of the Bible is where you should start reading. There you will learn about Jesus and how those he has saved should live. The Gospel of John is a good place to start.
If you are in an area where there is a Christian pastor or missionary, he or she will be happy to guide you in starting this new life. You need to find a Christian group with which to identify for mutual support, Bible study and group worship.
You can decide right now to accept Jesus as Savior. If that is your decision, just pray to God and tell him that you are repenting of your sins, ask his forgiveness and invite Jesus to become the Master of you life. After doing this you will want to thank God for his forgiveness and salvation. If you are sincere, God will forgive you and save you. Your actions then should reflect the changed life. Your prayer could be similar to the following:
"Lord God in heaven, I am a sinful person. I have gone my own way instead of your way. I am sorry for my sins and I turn to you. Please forgive my sins and my unbelief. I now invite your Son, Jesus Christ, into my life as my Savior. I place my life in your hands as your servant. Thank you, dear Father for having mercy on me and forgiving me and saving me. In Jesus precious name I pray, Amen."
If I can help you in your decision, be sure to let me know. Just go to the "Contact Us" page and write me. I am the only person who receives these messages and I will keep any confidences you share.
If you make a decision to trust Jesus Christ, please let me know. It will encourage me, by knowing that this ministry is helpful.
God bless you. If possible, go to church somewhere Sunday.
-- Don
In the fall of the year, Linda, a young woman, was traveling alone up the rutted and rugged highway from Alberta to the Yukon. Linda didn't know that you don't travel to Whitehorse alone in a rundown Honda Civic, so she set off where only four-wheel drives normally venture. The first evening she found a room in the mountains near a summit and asked for a 5 A.M. wakeup call so she could get an early start. She couldn't understand why the clerk looked surprised at that request, but as she awoke to early-morning fog shrouding the mountain tops, she understood. Not wanting to look foolish, she got up and went to breakfast. Two truckers invited Linda to join them, and since the place was so small, she felt obliged.
"Where are you headed?" one of the truckers asked.
"Whitehorse," Linda responded.
"In that little Civic? No way! This pass is DANGEROUS in weather like this."
"Well, I'm determined to try," was Linda's gutsy, if not very informed, response.
"Then I guess we're just going to have to hug you," the trucker suggested.
Linda drew back. "There's no way I'm going to let you touch me!"
"Not like THAT!" the truckers chuckled. "We'll put one truck in front of you and one in the rear. In that way, we'll get you through the mountains."
All that foggy morning Linda followed the two red dots in front of her and had the reassurance of a big escort behind as they made their way safely through the mountains.
Caught in the fog in our dangerous passage through life, we need to be "hugged." With fellow Christians who know the way and can lead safely ahead of us, and with others behind, gently encouraging us along, we, too, can pass safely.
Fellowship is important in our relationships with one another and with God. Christian fellowship is two-dimensional, and it has to be vertical before it can be horizontal. We must know the reality of walking in fellowship with the Father and his Son Jesus Christ before we can know the reality of walking together in fellowship with each other in our common relationship to God.
Walking with God causes us to make him the focus of our lives, rather than self. This is not easy if we want the glory and praise of others, rather than accepting God's will and purpose our lives.
The desire for the approval of others is one of the strongest motives that affect our attitudes and behaviors. Children want the approval of parents. A child enters school and works for the approval of the teacher. It is normal for teenagers to desire the applause of the group to which they belong and this inward desire explains many of the attitudes and actions that often bring bewilderment to parents.
In courtship, each of the persons seeks to win the other's approval that he or she might be accepted as a marriage partner. Inside marriage, it is wise for both partners to work that they might maintain the respect and approval that they gained during the courtship process.
A young man or lady enters the business world. He or she tries to labor so as to have the approval of the employer.
The desire for approval is one of the basic drives of human nature. It is important that we use great wisdom in our choice of those whose approval we desire. If we seek only our inward selfish approval, this will usually affect our happiness, actions and attitudes. If we seek the applause of the worldly and not the godly, it will be necessary for us to do those things that are contrary to the will of God in order to win approval.
We must first seek the approval of God. He will shape our lives in such a way that we will also obtain the approval, support and fellowship of others who are yielded to God's direction -- and even the respect of some who are not. Of course many people who are short-sited and focused only upon what this world offers will think you are foolish.
Hebrews 11:6 (in the New Testament of the Bible) says, "Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
God loves you like a loving, caring parent. In helping you to become a strong and productive child of his, he will discipline you when you need it. The writer of Hebrews refers to Psalm 94:12 when he says, "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves." (12:5b-6 NIV). The writer of Hebrews also reminds us that God said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. So we can say with confidence, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (13:5b-6).
Life may get rough from time to time, but God is aware of your situation and will give you the courage and strength to weather the storm. You will have his approval and his fellowship. Like the truck drivers in the opening story, he will "hug" you safely through each situation, if you will let him.
Having the protection and fellowship of God, we will want to become his agents for extending that caring concern to others. When we reach out to help others, we are often the ones who receive the greatest blessing.
But this all starts through a relationship with God. That relationship is initiated through faith, as we accept the sacrifice of his Son, Jesus Christ, for our sins and let him have control of our lives. Jesus voluntarily accepted death by crucifixion as a once-and-for-all sacrifice for our sins. He arose back to life on the third day after his burial. He appeared to many people and taught them for forty days after his resurrection. Then he, in full view of those present, was taken up into heaven. One day before the end of the world, he will return.
Those who have not established a relationship with God through his Son will spend an eternity in a burning hell when they die. Those who have received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will spend eternity in heaven when they die. They will live forever. Death is not the end for anyone. It is just a matter of where they will spend eternity.
In addition to eternal life, God gives to the believer a whole new purpose in life. Life will take on real meaning.
If you have not yet trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, I invite you to do so now. If you are ready to make that commitment, tell God about it and ask him to save you. He will! Here is a prayer, you might say to God, or just use your own words:
"Dear God in heaven, I know that I am a sinner. I am sorry for my sins and ask you to forgive me. Forgive my unbelief. I now invite your Son, Jesus Christ into my life to take control of it. Lord Jesus, come into my life. Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul. Father in heaven, I ask for strength to remain faithful. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, your Son, my Savior, Amen."
If this prayer was genuine and expressed a real commitment of yourself to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you have been saved. You are now a Christian and possess eternal life. Heaven is your home when you die.
With Jesus as your Savior, God is your Father. You are a child of his. You can talk to him any time you wish. He will hear you. You can even think a prayer. He knows your thoughts. He formed you. He knows your weaknesses as well as your strengths and you can talk to God about them. He understands your hurts and your joys. He cares for you.
If you have made a decision to follow Jesus Christ, or are considering making that decision, I would like to hear from you. If you have strayed away from the Christ-life and now are committing your life anew to follow him, let me know. If you need additional help, feel free to contact me. Also find a pastor or Christian missionary and share your decision. If you do not know of one in your area, I may be able to locate one for you. You can email me from the Contact Us page on this site, I am the only one who reads these e-mails. Your messages will be kept confidential.
-- Don
Jeremy was born with a twisted body, a slow mind and a chronic, terminal illness that had been slowly killing him all his young life. Still, his parents had tried to give him as normal a life as possible and had sent him to St. Theresa's Elementary School.
At the age of 12, Jeremy was only in second grade, seemingly unable to learn. His teacher, Doris Miller, often became exasperated with him. He would squirm in his seat, drool and make grunting noises. At other times, he spoke clearly and distinctly, as if a spot of light had penetrated the darkness of his brain. Most of the time, however, Jeremy irritated his teacher. One day, she called his parents and asked them to come to St. Teresa's for a consultation.
As the Forresters sat quietly in the empty classroom, Doris said to them, "Jeremy really belongs in a special school. It isn't fair to him to be with younger children who don't have learning problems. Why, there is a five-year gap between his age and that of the other students!"
Mrs. Forrester cried softly into a tissue while her husband spoke. "Miss Miller," he said, "there is no school of that kind nearby. It would be a terrible shock for Jeremy if we had to take him out of this school. We know he really likes it here."
Doris sat for a long time after they left, staring at the snow outside the window. Its coldness seemed to seep into her soul. She wanted to sympathize with the Forresters. After all, their only child had a terminal illness. But it wasn't fair to keep him in her class. She had 18 other youngsters to teach and Jeremy was a distraction. Furthermore, he would never learn to read or write. Why waste any more time trying?
As she pondered the situation, guilt washed over her. "Oh God," she said aloud, "here I am complaining when my problems are nothing compared with that poor family! Please help me to be more patient with Jeremy."
From that day on, she tried hard to ignore Jeremy's noises and his blank stares. Then one day he limped to her desk, dragging his bad leg behind him. "I love you, Miss Miller," he exclaimed, loudly enough for the whole class to hear. The other children snickered, and Doris' face turned red. She stammered, "Wh-Why, that's very nice, Jeremy. Now please take your seat."
Spring came, and the children talked excitedly about the coming of Easter. Doris told them the story of Jesus, and then to emphasize the idea of new life springing forth, she gave each of the children a large plastic egg. "Now," she said to them "I want you to take this home and bring it back tomorrow with something inside that shows new life. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Miss Miller!" the children responded enthusiastically -- all except for Jeremy. He just listened intently, his eyes never left her face. He did not even make his usual noises. Had he understood what she had said about Jesus' death and resurrection? Did he understand the assignment? Perhaps she should call his parents and explain the project to them.
That evening, Doris' kitchen sink stopped up. She called the landlord and waited an hour for him to come by and unclog it. After that, she still had to shop for groceries, iron a blouse and prepare a vocabulary test for the next day. She completely forgot about phoning Jeremy's parents.
The next morning, 19 children came to school, laughing and talking as they placed their eggs in the large wicker basket on Miss Miller's desk. After they completed their Math lesson, it was time to open the eggs.
In the first egg, Doris found a flower. "Oh yes, a flower is certainly a sign of new life," she said. "When plants peek through the ground we know that spring is here." A small girl in the first row waved her arms. "That's my egg, Miss Miller," she called out.
The next egg contained a plastic butterfly, which looked very real. Doris held it up. "We all know that a caterpillar changes and grows into a beautiful butterfly. Yes that is new life, too" Little Judy smiled proudly and said, "Miss Miller, that one is mine."
Next Doris found a rock with moss on it. She explained that the moss, too, showed life. Billy spoke up from the back of the classroom. "My Daddy helped me!" he beamed.
Then Doris opened the fourth egg. She gasped. The egg was empty! Surely it must be Jeremy's, she thought, and, of course, he did not understand her instructions. If only she had not forgotten to phone his parents. Because she did not want to embarrass him, she quietly set the egg aside and reached for another.
Suddenly Jeremy spoke up. "Miss Miller, aren't you going to talk about my egg?" Flustered, Doris replied, "but Jeremy - your egg is empty!" He looked into her eyes and said softly, "Yes, but Jesus' tomb was empty too!"
Time stopped. When she could speak again. Doris asked him, "Do you know why the tomb was empty?" "Oh yes!" Jeremy exclaimed. "Jesus was killed and put in there. Then his Father raised him up!"
The recess bell rang. While the children excitedly ran out to the school yard, Doris cried. The cold inside her melted completely away. Three months later Jeremy died. Those who paid their respects at the mortuary were surprised to see 19 eggs on top of his casket, all of them empty. --- Cybersalt Communications
Easter is celebrated because of the empty tomb. But what is the story behind it? It is the story of man's sin and God's love.
From God's creation of the first human being on down to the present, every person has sinned. In other words, we have done what we wanted to do and have ignored God, or perhaps have even openly opposed Him.
God created us for fellowship with Him. He loves us and wants us to spend eternity together. Sin however, separates us from God and excludes us from fellowship with Him while we are on earth and also excludes us from heaven when we die. There is nothing we can do to change that. Living a perfect life from now on (if that were possible) would not make things right because we have already sinned.
The Bible, in many places, tells us that every person has sinned and that the penalty for sin is eternal death. Romans 3:23 (in the Bible) says, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Romans 6:23 says, "The wages of sin is death." What a dilemma! However, because of God's love, He provided a way out of the dilemma.
Romans 6:23 also says, "but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Also, John 3:16 in the Bible says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." He sent his own Son to live among the people. He was tempted as we are, yet never sinned. His perfect life qualified him to pay our penalty by offering himself as a sacrifice for our sins.
Hundreds of years before Jesus came in the flesh, God's prophets wrote about him. They prophesied about his birth, events in his life, his crucifixion, his burial and his resurrection. Every prophesy was fulfilled as they had foretold.
To make a long story short, Jesus was falsely arrested, mocked, beaten and hung on a cross where he died. Learn more about this by reading the pages about the movie, The Passion of Christ. The links to them are at the bottom of this page.
While on the cross Jesus prayed for the forgiveness of his crucifiers, saved a thief on another cross, provided for the future welfare of his mother, experienced the forsakenness of God the Father for three hours during the darkness that came over the land, expressed his thirst, gave the victory cry at having finished his mission (making possible our salvation from our sins) and committed his spirit into the hands of the Father. The period of forsakenness was a part of his paying the penalty for our sins.
Jesus was buried in the borrowed tomb of a rich man, just as the Scriptures had prophesied.
On the third day he rose from the dead, just as he said he would and as the early Scriptures had foretold. Even though the tomb had been closed and sealed and a Roman guard posted outside, God caused an earthquake and the stone was rolled away from the mouth of the tomb, and Jesus body was not there. He had risen from the dead. Angels announced his resurrection to those who came to the tomb.
Proof of his resurrection occurred when he appeared to his disciples. During his forty days on earth after his resurrection, Jesus made many appearances, once to over 500 people. People talked with him, ate with him, experienced his miracles and listened to his teachings and instructions.
At the end of the forty days, Jesus ascended into heaven. This was in full view of those watching. Angels announced that he would come again. This will happen at the end of time as we know it on the earth.
Because of Jesus' sacrifice and his victory over the grave, we also can have a meaningful life here on earth and have victory over the grave. Death is not the end. We can spend eternity in heaven with God. That's what God wanted when he created us.
How can you have this victory over death? You must recognize that Jesus is God's Son and that he has the power to save you (change your life and give you eternal life) because of his sacrifice for your sins. You must turn from directing your own life and let Jesus take charge of your life. Just ask Jesus to come into your life and control it. If you really mean it, you will at that moment receive salvation, not because of your good deeds but because of what Christ did for you. Out of gratitude, You then will try to live in such a way that God will be pleased. In seeking His direction, your decisions will be guided by His will.
How do you ask Jesus to come into your life? God knows your mind and hears your prayers. Just talk to Him as you normally do when you converse with other people. He will hear and answer your prayers.
Your prayer to receive Jesus could be something like this: "Dear God of heaven, the Creator of the universe and all that is within it, I know that I have sinned against you. I have gone my own way. I am sorry for my sins and I now turn from them and to you. I invite Jesus Christ your Son into my life as Savior and Lord. Please forgive me and save me and take charge of my life. Thank you for forgiving me and extending your mercy and grace to me. Give me strength and courage to be faithful to you. In the name of Jesus Christ your Son, my Savior, I pray. Amen.
There will be times when you will slip up and fail to do what is right. Don't be discouraged, just ask God's forgiveness and depend on Him to help you do better. You will sometimes sin, but sin will not be your way of life. God will not kick you out of His family, just as you, if you are a parent, would not kick one of your children out of your family for disobeying you on occasion. But it means much to you when your child come and says, "I'm sorry, please forgive me." We need to do the same with our heavenly Father.
If I can be of help, just email me from the Contact Us page on this site. I am the only one who reads these e-mails. Your messages will be kept confidential. Your e-mail address will not be shared with anyone.
-- Don
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