Here Comes Peter Cottontail

That's right, this coming Sunday is Easter morning and children will be waking up to baskets filled with candy and stuffed animals. If the truth is know, when you saw the title of this article you couldn't help but sing, “Hopping down the bunny trail.” Some of you might have even finished the song.

This day is many things to many people. For some they will think just about the Easter bunny and getting together with family and friends.  They will hide eggs for the children to find, then have a big feast. This we would refer to as tradition, for most are doing it because this is what they were taught or brought up to do.

For others it is a day to see who can out dress who. Sure the folks will be in worship service of some kind but it won't be to worship a risen Savior. It will be to show off that new outfit they just bought for this one occasion.

All of this might sound rather childish but many of us have participated in such activities in the past and maybe some will today. Traditions are good, but when they interfere with the truth of God's word, then there is a big problem!

Is Easter in the Bible? Some translations have replace the word Passover, in Acts 12:4 with the word Easter. This reference to Easter (wrongfully inserted of course) appears only once in the entire Holy Bible. Yet, with all the carrying on in reference to Easter parades, Easter bunnies, Easter eggs, Easter sunrise services, Easter this and Easter that, one would expect that THE HOLY BIBLE would be replete with Scripture after Scripture mentioning the word 'EASTER'. It's not. If anything should have been spoken of and written about, even celebrated, in connection with The Resurrection of Our Messiah, The LORD Jesus Christ, it should have been the 'PASSOVER'.

What we have to be careful of today is to not mix pagan and heathen customs with The Resurrection of Our LORD Jesus Christ. The best dictionary definition of Easter is found in the root of its meaning from the mythical goddess 'EOSTRE' (also known as Ostara or Ishtar), a goddess of the dawn and spring. Therefore, Easter, and the eggs, and the bunnies, and the sunrise services (worship of the sun and not the SON) are all opposite to the Scriptural and truthful meaning of The Resurrection of The LORD Jesus Christ.

 

As you know, we, in the church, do not celebrate Easter but we do bring to remembrance the suffering of Christ on Calvary's tree for the remission of our sins each and every first day of the week by the taking of the Lord's Supper. Do you have a scriptural understanding of the resurrection or do you go along with the traditions of men. Once again you must make the choice which is correct in the eyes of God. Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of Me.” (Luke 22:19b) He was referring to the taking of the bread and the fruit of the vine. We are complete this morning knowing that what we do each and every week is biblical and is commanded of us by the Lord Himself. Be Blessed!

In His name,

Eddie

Traveling

The world today is very fast paced. If we are not careful, we will get caught up in this rush and miss out on smelling the roses. People travel daily from one destination to the next giving no thought as to where they are really going in life. Most are commuting daily to work and back. Others are taking extravagant vacations to other parts of the world with nothing but pleasure on their minds. There is nothing wrong with travel, especially if you are traveling in the right direction. Let's talk about some of these directions.

In God's word these directions can be referred to as paths. This is nothing more that a walk, a manner of life. There is the path of the wicked, the believers, the righteous and of the Lord. We will begin with the wicked. This path is brought to nothing according to Job 6:18. It becomes dark (Job 24:13) and is crooked (Isa.59:8). It leads to death (Prov. 2:18) and is filled with wickedness (Prov. 1:15, 16). This path doesn't get any better either. It is destructive (Isa. 59:7) and is followed by wicked rulers (Isa. 3:12). One very important fact about this path is that it is made difficult by God (Hos. 2:6).

Now let's take a look at the path of believers. We will see one significant difference between this path and the path of the wicked. First, this path is beset with difficulties (Job 19:8) but is under God's control (Job 13:27). It is hindered by the wicked (Job 30:13) but enriched by the Lord (Ps. 23:3) and upheld by God (Ps. 17:5). The believer's path is provided by light (Ps. 119:105) and is know by God (Ps. 139:3). It is like a shining light (Prov. 4:18), directed by God (Isa. 26:7) and one that is to be pondered (Prov. 4:26). Unlike the wicked path, there is no death at the end (Prov. 12:28). It is sometimes unknown (Isa. 42:16) and sometimes seems crooked (Lam. 3:9) but to be made straight (Heb. 12:13).

It pays to be righteous. This path is taught by fathers (Prov. 4:1, 11). It is kept (Prov. 2:20), it is taught to believers (Ps. 25:4, 5), sought by believers (Ps. 119:35; Isa. 2:3) and it is rejected by unbelievers (Jer. 6:16; 18:15). How sad!

We definitely want to be on the last path, the Lord's. This path is true (Ps. 25:10), smooth (Ps. 27:11), rich (Ps. 65:11), guarded (Prov. 2:8), upright (Prov. 2:13), living (Prov. 2:19) and it is peaceful (Prov. 3:17).

Which path are you traveling today? Hopefully it is the path of the believer, the righteous and of the Lord. If not, then there is no hope for you and your reward will be eternal condemnation unless you repent and turn to the Lord. Remember He stands with arms opened wide to receive us sinners into the fold. Please don't be left out!