Therefore Jesus said again, "I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:9-10).
With stores and homes filled with colored eggs, bunny figurines, and candy galore it's hard to tell what people are celebrating this month. There is very little evidence of the true meaning of Easter as commercialism and pagan traditions have hijacked our most sacred feast. Cute little bunnies don't offend most people, but a wooden cross with a message of salvation in a church or residential yard does. Why such contrasting reactions? Because rabbits and candy don't stir our hearts to repentance; they are not the gateway to everlasting life.
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (I Corinthians 1:18). The devil loves to distract us and put diversions in our path. Satan doesn't want people to worship Jesus as their Messiah. He'll thwart all evangelism efforts by deceiving the minds of the unsaved; cleverly convincing the masses they don't need a Savior. Satan casts doubt on the validity of God's sovereignty and His standards of holiness whenever he cunningly whispers, "A just God would never send good people to hell, would he?" Lucifer's lies about the severity of our sins lead many to conclude that Christ's death and resurrection is not enough, or not necessary at all, for entrance into heaven.
Don't believe the devil and his evil schemes! He's a murderer of your soul and robber of abundant life. Believe the Passover Lamb whose blood shed at Calvary covered your sins forever. Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd: I know my sheep and my sheep know me--just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--I lay down my life for the sheep" (John 10:16).
Do you know the voice of your Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ? Do you read His words in the Bible and pray for His Holy Spirit to guide you in truth, obedience and salvation? Have you laid your life down before Him in worship and thanksgiving? If so, then Easter will be a joyful celebration of Christ's triumph over sin and death for all who trust in His sacrifice. Two gates are placed before you, which one will you enter eternity through--the one that leads to hell or heaven? Therefore Jesus said again, "I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:9-10).
Your fellow herald for Christ,
Mary
