EASTER CELEBRATION ISN’T CANCELLED, IT JUST MIGHT BE DIFFERENT?

For those of you who recall my last blog it was entitled, “When Life Doesn’t Make Sense.” It was based on the premise that we have our ideas of what will happen next in life, but many times life turns out differently. As we are currently embattled in the pandemic of COVID-19, it is surreal to think how much life has changed in one month. I am in no ways claiming to be prophetic for I did not fathom all that has taken and will take place. 

Things are certainly different but let me reassure you that we will get through this together. Nothing lasts forever. Nothing in this world ever has or ever will. Life will return to normal but it will be a new normal. We will have all been changed. Life is about change. God is shaping and molding us in Full Devotion to Christ. As stated in March, we must continue to trust God with every piece of our lives.

Undoubtedly, I was looking forward to celebrating our Easter services as I know you all were as well. Currently, we have suspended all services at the church until further notice. I am anticipating, according to our current guidelines, that we will not hold any corporate worship services until late in May? We have been working diligently to get our services online and will continue to do so for the future. If you are able, please join us online on Sunday mornings. You will find the livestream tab on our website at www.fulldevotion.org

Just because we are not physically together does not mean that we cannot celebrate Easter. Yes, it will take some creativity this year but we can and will find ways to make it meaningful. The Celebration of Easter is one thing that is eternal. The resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ established the opportunity for us to celebrate and worship him forever and ever.

Luke chapter 24 says, 

“They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.  In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?  He is not here; he has risen!    

With those simple words “He Has Risen,” eternity was changed forever. For those who believe in God and his plan of Salvation, eternity with God in heaven is possible. According to scripture, Jesus appeared in the flesh to over 500 people giving proof to the claim of resurrection. Historically, the celebration of Easter itself did not begin until the Council of Nicaea established a decree in the year 325. Easter has been celebrated ever since by the followers of Jesus Christ.

Here in the United States, Easter Sunday often boast the highest church attendance with the various events like sunrise services and Passion plays. But in areas of the world where Christianity is not welcome, the time we celebrate the risen life of our Savior plays out differently. In many countries, believers must celebrate in secret—not unlike those who followed Jesus 2,000 years ago. While we in the free world may think of our celebrations as the traditional way to honor our Savior’s sacrifice, today’s persecuted believers might actually be experiencing something closer to the original Easter.

I’d like to think as we celebrate Easter this year, it will give us a new perspective on what others around the world often face, especially those in the persecuted church. They face fears for their very lives, yet demonstrate the same hope as the early disciples and the same hope that we have today. I would ask that you pray for all of us and even more for believers today in countries like Egypt, Pakistan, North Korea and many others who will experience, like us, a different, yet no less meaningful Easter Sunday.

I look forward to the time when the church can be together again. I truly believe this is an opportunity for the church to rise up and show people where our hope comes from.

 As the Psalmist penned,

“I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth.”