Monday, April 25, 2011

Easter and Hope

Easter is the triumph of God that alone brings true hope.

Without Easter, all our phrases that begin with the words, "I hope..." are only expressions of selfish human will and are without substance or foundation, mere wishes.

The hope that the risen Jesus gives to all who repent and believe in Him is not just for life beyond the grave.

It is because of the promise of eternity enjoyed by followers of the risen Jesus though, that Martin Luther tore down the ecclesiastical walls between God and people, William Wilberforce combated slavery, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the confessing churches of Germany stood up against Hitler, Desmond Tutu faced off against apartheid, and Martin Luther King, Jr. fought for equality for the black and the poor.

Easter hope, contrary to what Karl Marx famously said, is no opiate, no reality-denying insulator that lulls believers in Christ into resigned fatalism.

Easter hope gives believers inspiration, courage, and the power to speak the truth in love, promote the love and justice with which God commands us to treat one another, and to try and fail and try again at every good and useful project that brings healing and encouragement to the world.

Easter hope has always allowed believers to strive for better lives in this world because they know that death is not the worst thing that can happen to Christians.

[With credit to Geoff Talbot, who blogs in seven sentences regularly.]

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