Normally I am a very upbeat and positive person. But, lately I've been feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders and every day brings a fresh onslaught of things to be scared of, saddened by, and stuff that just angers me. Every time I scroll Facebook I read of traffic accidents that have claimed lives, distant friends that are suffering great loss and unimaginable tragedy, and things happening in my town, state, country and around the world that magnify the true evil of human nature and living on a planet that seems to fight against our survival. It hurts. Some days the heaviness of it all just keeps me from wanting to get out of bed and fight through another day of disappointments, mistakes, misunderstandings, and the relentless bombarding of just working it out.
I've noticed lately that I have been groaning a lot. Sometimes it's just the ole body not acting as young as spry as it used to, but a lot of times it's just because I feel like letting out a moan. I guess it's kind of my way of releasing the inner pent up frustration of feeling like I'm just never going to win at this "life" thing. In Romans 8:22 it talks about how the world itself is groaning. We all--our earth included--have an inner groan going on as we feel the weightiness that seems to be chronically pushing us down.
Romans 8:25 speaks of how we hope for what we do not yet have and wait for it patiently. Over 2000 years ago a baby was born into this world that defines this hope. That infant was fully THE God that created this world and all in it--including you and me. The plan for this tiny baby was hatched long ago with a devastating decision to take a bite of a forbidden piece of fruit. Do you realize that Adam and Eve are the only two human beings that ever existed that got to experience this world in all of its perfection? They are the only ones that ever got to walk this earth (if only for a few seconds) without feeling the groans and heartaches. Do you think God ever regrets giving us the one thing no other created being has--the power to choose? It didn't take long for His crowning achievement to choose...poorly.
And yet, that really bad decision led to what Jesus did for us on the cross. He took responsibility for all of the ugly, nasty, corrupt, vile, disgusting, aggravating, annoying, destructive things that every human being had ever done and will ever do--even though He himself had never even had a sinful thought. All because He loves us. Because of His sacrifice we now have the option to experience that perfection as it was always planned. We will get to know what it's like to live in perfect bodies in a perfect place and never ever ever have to experience the gut wrenching anguish of death again.
When we decide to believe that every word of the Bible is true and that God is real and that Jesus existed and died for our sins and rose again from the dead on the 3rd day and when our eyes are opened to this truth--some amazing things happen. First and foremost--we are saved. We are no longer accused and rejected by the sins we committed nor the ones we will commit. God is HOLY. Sometimes I think it's easy to forget that. We often treat Him as no more than an afterthought or a type of Santa Claus that we hand a wish-list. But, do not ever forget that He is holy. He cannot even look at sin. So Jesus took care of that on the cross. When we believe that His only Son Jesus Christ is our Savior--God can't see our sin. He sees us in the perfection in which we were created, not tainted by all of the ugliness this world has become.
Not only are we saved from sins, but because of that we get to go to heaven. Don't let the same lie that Satan told Eve trip you up--trying to make you believe there is another way to do things or twisting the truths of God. Mankind's downfall began with the simple words "Did God really say....." Doubt is the enemy's best and trickiest weapon. If he can get you to doubt it he can keep you from doing it. There is only one way to heaven. The Bible says it. I believe it. The end.
Not only do we get to go to heaven, but now we are unshackled from living our lives on earth without a purpose. In 2 Peter 3:9 it says that God does not wish anyone to perish, but wants us all to come to repentance so we can be saved. That means we have been given a task--tell others the good news. Tell them in whatever way God has gifted you that this rotten, infested, disappointing place is not all there is. The perfection our souls crave is real and is waiting for us for eternity.
And finally, in Revelation 21:1 it speaks of how there will be a new heaven and a new earth. That's our hope--the one we are patiently waiting for. We WILL get to experience an untainted earth. One that has not been poisoned with the corruption and foulness of evil, but is guarded with true perfection. What will it be like? I have no idea! But, I do know that it is exactly what my soul is craving.
This inward (and sometimes outward) groaning will one day all come to an end. THAT is something worth celebrating. No matter how you celebrate this day we call Easter--be it with traditions of going to church and celebrating the Risen Christ, hunting Easter eggs, giving gifts from the Easter Bunny or all of the above. Remember that you have been given a choice. You can choose to ignore all of this "Religious" stuff and call it mumbo jumbo. Or you can choose to believe it. We all are going to spend eternity somewhere. If you are really honest and allow yourself to quiet your mind and think about it--you know it deep down inside that there absolutely is something else after this life. The most powerful choice we have been given is where that will be.
My beloved Grandma Floyd was a powerful believer in God. One of my favorite memories of her was when she would pray. Her prayers were always so heartfelt and sincere even causing her voice to quaver a bit. It was precious to me. It was her lifelong wish for all of her loved ones to accept Jesus as their Savior and she prayed for all of us often. At her funeral she had requested a cup of Tootsie Pops be set out ( a favorite of hers to give to anyone that wanted one) and a note written that simply said: "You know where I am and you know how to get here."
Guys, that's what the word of God is. It's His (rather lengthy) note telling us He's real. Jesus is alive and He IS coming back. If you are in a place of great suffering right now--I am so sorry. But, please know--you are not alone. You do not have to just take the punches by yourself. God loves you. He proved it by allowing Jesus to take on sin and die for us. He destroyed death by raising him from the grave on the 3rd day. And now He is waiting for us. Make the choice--because we know where He is and we know how to get there.
Happy Easter everyone!
