Resurrection Morning, April 23 Easter Eggs, Grass, and the Idea of Rabbits on Easter Sunday When I was a child, at the beginning of the school year dad would take my brother and me to the Army Navy Surplus Store. There we would get three pairs of pants, three plaid shirts, socks, engineer boots, a parka, a hat and gloves. We were instructed these were to last us through the school year, because we would not get any other clothes before summer. There was one exception to that rule. When Easter came around, we would get a nice set of dress-up clothes so mom could take us to church on Easter Sunday morning. After church we would normally go to someone's house for dinner, and the children would be allowed to run around the yard looking for hard-boiled or candy eggs. I thought it was neat to see all the new clothes. I must admit, I didn't understand what was so important about needing to have brand new spiffy clothes for one Sunday out of the year. I was not raised in a Christian home. As far back as I can remember, mom made an effort to have us kids in Sunday School and church every Sunday. As I got older I began questioning why it was important for me to go. My dad didn't go, and if I were going to be a real man, I would have to follow in dad's footsteps. I think I was about fourteen when I refused to go to Sunday School or church any longer unless dad went also. From then on I didn't attend church. I learned well to follow in dad's footsteps and left home shortly after I finished high school and received my diploma. I joined the Marine Corps at age 17 and was ready for whatever the world could throw at me. For ten years I lived the life of a sinner steeped in the ways of ungodliness. I had learned to be just like my dad, and I was empty inside. By the age of 28 I had been married and divorced twice. I had survived a head-on collision that took the life of my baby daughter and the baby daughter of my neighbor. I still had not learned my lesson. In July of 1974 God came and convicted me of destroying something He considered beautiful. I had never considered myself to be beautiful, so I was caught off guard. I found out that God is willing to discuss with us, what is on His mind. That day I realized that I was destroying my life, and that God wanted that life to be how He had created it. I confessed I didn't know any other way to live and accepted God's invitation to allow Him to change me. What happened next was miraculous. I haven't been totally faithful to my commitment over the years, but I have come to find out that God is patient, forgiving, and loving, and He doesn't want anyone to perish apart from knowing Him. So, for the last few years, I have been impressed with God's love and forgiveness and with learning about sacrifice and obedience. I had spent a number of years walking in my earthly father's footsteps. I found only emptiness until the day I was truly alone, and God was able to get my undivided attention. I have also come to evaluate what Easter means to me. I see now, what was so important regarding the new clothes, Easter eggs, grass, and the idea of rabbits on Easter Sunday. It is the idea of new life. And not just new life, but life abundant. Grass, eggs, and new clothes speak of new life, and rabbits speak of abundant life. However, if we stop there, we have missed the Easter message completely. Jesus gives us a clue to the true meaning of Easter as He calls for us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. Follow Him in His footsteps, through the streets of Jerusalem, into the garden of Gethsemane, into the palace, down the Via Dolorosa, and all the way to Calvary. We are carrying our cross and following Him, because He has been there and knows the way. And the truth of Easter lies in dying. For the new life cannot come until there is no longer any life. Jesus could not be raised up until He was dead, and we cannot be resurrected until we are dead, dead to self, dead to sin, dead to this world, dead to our desires. And that is what Easter is all about for me today. New life that comes after having died to everything I once thought was important. The Psalmist has said, "Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me." The Psalmist didn't know Jesus. He lived before Jesus walked through the valley of the shadow of death and came out on the other side to a glorious brand new morning. Today, I can say, "Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for my Lord and Savior has been that way, and I am following in His footsteps all the way." Hallelujah! Sorry, your browser doesn't support Java(tm). The Lord is risen; He is risen indeed! Terry Pinkerton Viborg, SD Thank You, Father, for the grace and strength to follow. Thank You, Jesus, for leading the way, all the way to victory. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for walking alongside and encouraging when I wanted to give up and quit. Thank You Almighty God, for Your great salvation plan that allows me to wake up to Easter. Amen Suggested Daily Scripture Reading [Psalm 148, 149, 150] [Exodus 12:1-14] [John 1:1-18] Visit: 1999 Advent/Christmas Series Epiphany Series You may send e-mail comments or suggestions toYvonne Edwards. Page designed by: Yvonne Edwards Prayer by: Terry Pinkerton Holy Land Pictures provided by Chuck Wilkes. Sue Altman graciously provided artistic abilities for the first page of greeting. Background set provided by Jaguar Woman Copyright © 2000 NazNet All rights reserved. International copyright secured.