It seemed to be universal...

Those at our Life Group last night the story was the same. A story of a tough week filled with pitfalls that had begun with great anticipation and renewed energy that comes for Easter and springtime here in the south. We celebrated new life on Easter with a great attendance of over 130; fine food, fantastic fun and an egg toss all on a beautiful day in Guyton, all of this making for a fine Easter at least on the outside. Then came Monday!
Life set in and Easter had become just another day after Saturday. What happened? How is it that Easter made no difference on Monday? Did that happen to you?

I don’t think it happens because of the sugar rush from the candy or the hangover from the pollen or the pollen medication. No, God’s arch enemy is out to rob you of your joy. He is there to remind you that your life is a mess and convince you in your eyes that Easter really never cleans up the mess. I remind you he is the father of lies. But that is hard to remember when those old demons are in your head like they were Monday night reminding me that life was failing, I was a failure, the end was coming and it was my fault. Old stories, old wounds, old habits all die hard.

In the middle of the night in the middle of the battle it is hard not to believe the voices in your head are speaking truth and what they say is true. But is it? One way to test is to measure their fruit. When those voices speak what fruit does it bear? Does it bear fear, resentment, hatred, jealousy, envy and rage? Or, does it bear peace, patience, kindness, hope, encouragement? I can tell you Monday night it was all fear and discouragement. That means it was not from God for correction but from evil to corrupt, to take away the joy of Easter. That’s what evil likes to do. So, what can we do about it? Get a new focus. Easter makes the difference.

Jesus, while dying on the cross experienced for the first time separation from God. He had never known that before. But, he had never sinned before either and now he became sin. In His eyes God withdrew. So, Jesus cries out, “My God, My God why have You forsaken me?” I want to point out that Jesus in his desperate uncharted, previously unknown moment calls out to His Father, no curse but a call in faith. Then with even greater faith, “sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see,” (Heb 11:1 NIV) he commits his spirit to God His Father. Jesus changed his focus from what was happening to him to what God was doing through Him. It took great faith. It will take great faith for you and me. Easter makes the difference. The difference is hope.

Hope for life after death.
Hope for help when you are hurting.
Hope that your helper knows what you are going though and lived to tell about it.
Hope in a plan not seen and a purpose not understood.

Easter makes a difference in the days following when we choose to focus on what God is doing through us and not on what’s happening to us. Easter reveals that to really live is to live on purpose (to glorify God) and the plan will be revealed.