The sky is a robin’s egg blue sprinkled with cotton ball clouds. The sun filters through palm leaves and the eucalyptus trees gently sway back and forth to the whispers of the spring trade winds. The breeze carries with it the the faintest scent of sunscreen and salty air, picked up from the warm embrace of the Pacific Ocean that surrounds the island. It seems as if I am ensconced in a sphere of various shades of blue – from the robin’s egg shade of the sky to the teal of the ocean.  And in that sphere I hear the twittering of the birds as they praise their Maker, the hum of the pool pump that beckons in thoughts of relaxation, the splash of the turtle as he floats in his pond, and my heart as it rejoices: it is Easter morning!

I am pondering Easter. Why do I celebrate? Because I love Jesus. Yet why do I love Him? He has given everything so that I might live abundantly for and with Him. But how can I believe in someone who is so often ridiculed and rejected by the majority of mankind?  Let me put it this way, then. He is like my Easter morning. As I sit on my lanai and type out a description of my surroundings for this blog, someone in Alaska is probably huddled up inside their house because it is still freezing outside.  However, that doesn’t make my morning any less real. In fact, it is one of those gorgeous days that I simply want to absorb into my soul so that I can bring it out whenever the gloomy days come. The Alaska experience is real too, yet I am certain that it would be traded for my morning in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, it is often easier for people to believe weather reports from across the ocean than it is for them to welcome the embrace of their Savior. 

As human beings we are ever striving to define ourselves – at times it is to tell others who  we are, but it’s mainly for our own assurance. We seek fulfillment in material possessions that give us a sense of identity; we listen to music and watch movies that reflect our inner longings; we pack our schedule tight with activities and events that give an impression of meaning; we wear clothes that state our name, rank, and mission in life; and we look for affirmation from the people who surround us.  But what happens when our house and possessions burn to the ground? Our bank accounts are depleted? Our health is ruined? Our friends desert us? and we are stripped naked before the Throne of Judgement?  Is it what you own that makes you worthy? Is it who you know? Or what you’ve done? Or what you wear?

No, my friend. You and I came into this world as nobody with nothing…and when we leave this world and stand before the Judgement Seat of the Almighty God, the Maker of Heaven and Earth, that is exactly how we will be.  But I know who I am. I am loved by Jesus Christ. His sacrifice has made me worthy to stand before the Almighty God. I will embrace His life as I have embraced this Easter Morning. What about you?