Live for him who died for you.
By Joseph C. Ibekwe
Easter is a story of life and death. Easter is also the story of a journey. It marks the end of one journey and the beginning of another journey.
Easter marks the end of Jesus’ physical ministry on Earth, Easter marks the beginning of our ministry on Earth. Easter also marks the end of Jesus’earthly journey, and the beginning of our journey to eternity in God and with God.
So, each year as Christians, we only celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ from the dead, but also use the opportunity do evaluate how far we have gone in our own journey to eternity. We also use the opportunity to access our performance in our earthly ministry.
In other words, Easter is important for us to two things:
to assess our performance of our earthly ministry, and to evaluate our journey to eternity.
Jesus came here for an assignment. When he completed it, he handed the baton to us to continue to run the race and to finish it off. On the day he was handing the baton to us, he said “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even on to the end on the world. Amen! Matt. 28:18-20
When Jesus rose from the dead, he give us his life; he give us his power, that is, the authority that is in his name; he give us his love; and he gave us his Holy Spirit so that we can use them to carry out some assignments.
What is the assignment that Jesus give to us?
1. He told us to preach the gospel, to get people saved.
2. He told us to heal the sick.
3. He told us to cast out devils
4. He told us to deliver oppressed.
5. He asked us to teach and make disciples of all nations.
Easter, therefore, is a time for us to the re-evaluate how we have used what he give to us to do the assignment placed in our hands. We also take stock of how we are living our lives
How are we supposed to live?
2nd Corinthians chapter 5:14 &15, answers it.
“For the love of Christ contraineth us; because we thus judge that if one died, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live for themselves, but for him died for them, and rose again”.
Jesus died for us and rose again for us; and demanded we shouldn’t live for ourselves any longer. We belong to him. So, Easter is always an opportunity for us to reflect, and ask ourselves questions: how far have I lived for him? Am making impact for him? or Am I promoting myself?
Jesus came to start a business.
It is a kingdom enterprise. He set it up and gave us all that it takes to get the job done.
Easter is not just for us to celebrate, eat to drink, and visit friends, even though, those are important. But most importantly, it is a time for self evaluation.
As you know, we are expecting the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is nearer now than when we first believed. So we should be thinking more about how to complete the Great Commission, not how to build mansions, because these mansions will not last. We do not take for granted the grace of God given to us, and the privilege to be asked to continue what he started.
Easter is the most important celebration in the life of Christians. It marks the beginning of our journey to freedom and to eternity with God.
I pray that you receive more grace to live for him, in Jesus mighty name.
Amen!