Easter -- All the Reasons to Love

We read a lot of books with our children. The favorite was a beautiful book called All the Places to Love. It is the story of a grandmother who shows her grandson all the places to love on the family farm: the stream, the fields, the trees. The book ends with the grandson showing his newborn sister all the places to love. He is passing on his knowledge of the beauty and the grace of their home. Isn’t that lovely?

As we approach Easter, I am once again reminded that there are many reasons to love Easter. Jesus overcomes the tomb! God’s plan for the flock of sheep of Christ is revealed, and it is triumphant and beautiful! Christ is risen, and with his rising come forgiveness from sin and release from death! Easter is such good news. My hope and desire is that Easter rekindles confidence and trust in the heart of every Christian. It is our best day, and it confirms our best hope.

Of all the reasons to love Easter, one of my favorite is that Easter means we do not need to be governed by fear. According to Matthew, Jesus’ first word of Easter to the women is “Do not be afraid” (Matthew 28:10). These are good words to take to heart.

This Easter let us push back against fear. We are so afraid. Hundreds of people have said to me, “I am so afraid for our country,” or “I am so afraid for our world.” I would safely guess you have heard this, too. Fear dominates the landscape. We are afraid of political outcomes. We are  afraid for our planet. We are afraid for our children and grandchildren. We are afraid of other people who seem intent on harming us. This fear is an equal opportunity oppressor: it infects people of every region, every political flavor, every race and every age.

My point: even though there are real worries in the world and even when the future seems daunting, we let fear control too many of our thoughts and decisions. When I feel afraid and when I let fear overcome my faith, I make my worst decisions as a husband, a father and a pastor. People make many of their worst errors and decisions when they are consumed by fear.

Easter is no accident. Jesus’ command—do not be afraid—is not happenstance. Easter is an antidote to fear. It is a permanent and final reminder that God will have the final say and that God’s grace will overcome all sources of fear. While our fears are real, so, too, is our trust in God. And God is bigger than all things that go bump in the night or that cause our minds to question and our hearts to doubt. And no, no, no— this trust is not naive. It is the most important trust we hold because it is the trust that holds us.

Desmond Tutu wrote these words, now sung the world over, words which fully capture our Easter faith and Easter hope:

          Goodness is stronger than evil;

          love is stronger than hate;

          light is stronger than darkness;

          life is stronger than death.

          Victory is ours, victory is ours

          through him who loved us.

          Victory is ours, victory is ours

          through him who loved us.

May Easter grace abound!  Abound!