It is no big surprise to hear that we live in a broken world, and people are searching for happiness amid so much sadness and uncertainty. They are lonely, sad, and depressed, angry, anxious, and worried about tomorrow.
Sometimes, it feels as if we have no purpose in life. We are not concerned with helping our neighbors, too often because we do not give ourselves a chance to know them. We forget that we are all neighbors, and brothers and sisters who live together on this planet Earth. If we just took some time out of our busy lives to extend a handshake or a helping hand to someone in need, the world would indeed be a better place in which to live.
I heard a story told about four businessmen who journeyed to a large city for a conference. On the last day of the meeting, these four men had reservations on the same plane going home. Due to traffic, they arrived at the airport late when they heard the last call for their return flight. Racing to try to reach and board their plane, they bumped into people and dodged lines in their frantic rush through the airport when, suddenly, they ran into a table set up to sell baskets of beautiful apples. As they crashed into the upended table, baskets and apples were strewn all over the floor; but the three men kept running to catch their flight.
However, one of the men looked back at the upset table and strewn apples, when he realized that he needed to return to the scene and help the vendor clean up the mess. Yelling ahead to his two friends that he would catch a later flight, he turned and went back to the apple vendor. But as he reached the upset display, he saw the woman kneeling on the floor, crying, and feeling around for the apples and baskets … he realized that she was blind and kneeling beside her, asked if she was alright. In tears, she answered “yes,” and stayed to help her retrieve her toppled wares.
As he snatched the baskets and the apples, he noticed that some of the baskets were broken and the apples were bruised from the accident. As he helped the woman off her knees, together they reset her table. He then took out of his wallet and said, “Here is some money to take care of the broken baskets and bruised apples.” But as he walked away, the woman cried out, “Mister! Hey, mister!” As he turned around, she asked, “Are you Jesus?” A smile spread across his face as he replied, “No. But He is a friend of mine.”
We all need to be able to say with confidence that Jesus is a friend of ours, as the world would be a much better place to hear and know those spoken words.
Jesus left us here to be His representatives: His hands, His feet, His deed-doers. Jesus lived on earth some 2000 years ago but for an all-too-short 33 years. He was here for a purpose… to save all mankind from sin and degradation. He loves us so much that He came to die to save us from our sins, to then take us with Him to Heaven when we leave this Earth.
The miracle of Easter is that Jesus was raised from the dead on the third day and lives, no more to die. And He promised that He will be with us forevermore, as we will always live with Him in Heaven when we confess our sins and place our faith in Him.
On April 20th, Christians will gather in churches throughout the world to mark the glorious anniversary of Christ rising from the dead. Christ Church in Forest City (located on the corner of Dundaff and Delaware Streets) is planning a song-filled joyful service as we worship Jesus Christ, the Risen Lord. We invite anyone and everyone to join us in this worship service, to come and sing God’s praises at 9:00am on Easter Sunday and every Sunday!
Come, join us, and claim Jesus as your personal friend! We look forward to seeing YOU in church. Alleluia! — Dawn Pentecost
