Give Up Death

 

Happy Easter!  I pray that our Lenten series focusing on behaviors in our lives that we should consider ‘giving up’ was reflective for you.  As I wrote those words, I certainly reflected on my life and realized the times that I need to ‘give up’ the behaviors I shared and replace them with behaviors God would be proud of:

·       Give up hatred for LOVE.

·       Give up jealousy for CONTENTMENT.

·       Give up malicious words for SUPPORTIVE WORDS.

·       Give up pride for HUMILITY.

·       Give up revenge for FORGIVENESS.

The capitalized words above are definitely the person I want to be!  Today we focus on giving up death!  Many of you may be saying, “That’s impossible, we are all going to die.”  Let us start by focusing on the reason for Easter, Jesus’ death, and resurrection.  The journey to the cross begins in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Jesus is coming closer to the time when he know he will suffer for our sins.  He reaches out to our Heavenly Father, asking for the cup of death to be taken from him, but continues with, “yet not as I will, but as you will.”  God continues the journey to the cross, not providing Jesus an opportunity to leave the Garden unchained.  Jesus was not able to give up death.

Jesus’ love is the reason he needed to walk to Calvary.  His love for us and for his father kept him moving towards his death.  Jesus did this because he knew that his death would bring his life.  He also did this knowing that our death would then have life!  Jesus died for us sinners, so that we may no longer have sin!  That love is still difficult for me to comprehend.  He also died that I may live with him again in paradise.  Today’s verse shares that, “The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.”  Our Jesus, our true savior, not only saved us from sin, but saved us from death.  This earthly life will fade away, but we will not die, we will move to our heavenly home, the one where a place is waiting for us!  Halleluiah!  We give up death for eternal life! 

Living in this hope means that our time on earth is truly temporary.  Our life begins when we die – our forever home is in heavenly paradise.  Jesus gave up death for life so that we may give up death for life.  This Easter, as we enter our churches and sit at our tables, may we pause to remember those who have left earth for their place in the heavenly home – and know that one day you will have your life be renewed in paradise as well.  Give up death for life!  Happy Easter.

Dear Risen Lord, thank you for conquering death so that I may also conquer death!  May I always share praise and thanksgiving to you, Jesus, for giving up death for life and preparing a place in heaven so I can continue life with you.  In your name I pray, Amen!