Jesus in the Center

Around the Easter holiday I came across an article where the author wrote: “Sorry Christians, but there’s only one reason I get excited about Easter, and it has nothing to do with Jesus and everything to do with those chocolate eggs filled with caramel in the center!”

…Hmmm, okay, those are pretty tasty, I’ll give you that, I thought to myself…

Not wanting to stir up any trouble, I quietly backed out of the website without making a “peep”…yes, I’ve included a few puns:/ lol.

But I couldn’t shake what I’d read, mainly because (forgive me while I challenge this mindset) mouth-watering, delicate chocolates can be bought year-round in any given grocery store—like there are whole isles devoted to sweet treats in a variety of chocolate smothered choices!! And Ghirardelli chocolates with the creamy caramel inside are available any day of the year and in my opinion they have it figured out just right, and they “beat” chocolate caramel Easter eggs anytime; so to get incredibly excited and hyped up over these “cheap” eggs I guess I don’t understand that. Further yet, to give more credit and recognition to chocolate eggs over Jesus during the Easter celebration or ANYTIME, I just can’t process that.

Realistically speaking, I just think it’s sad.

Obviously this person is far from Jesus, but it doesn’t mean he or she is unreachable. The truth is there are millions of others out there who are more excited over “chocolate” than Jesus, it may just be in a more subtle manner.

As a Christian I’m optimistic and realize everyone is capable of being saved if they’re willing. No one is too far from saving; it’s just some are looking for life to satisfy through a “chocolate-fix” rather than relishing in the everlasting sweetness that Jesus provides.

Where is the hope found when you function in a facade that way?

When I look back at my life before I came to Christ, I see a mess of “chocolate fixes.” As a teen and in my twenties I only knew and believed in Jesus as God’s son, but I was so far away from a genuine relationship with Him at that time.

I was naïve.

I did things my way.

I was selfish, but also so lost that I sought approval of others.

I was a mess.

My life was a mess.

I was someone who didn’t know real hope.

I thought joy was found in people-pleasing, through the number of likes I got on a Facebook post, and by maintaining a “healthy, positive” bank account.

I was a big hot mess. I’ve come a long way and it has NOTHING to do with “chocolate” and EVERYTHING to do with Jesus. My mess has become a message because of Him!

When you think material items will satisfy—you have a huge problem—because no amount of “stuff” will ever satisfy the way Jesus can and wants to in your life…

That’s not saying that with Jesus the struggle will be over. In fact as a Christian, we become more aware of our faults, troubles, worries, and sins—but our focus shifts to God and it’s absolutely, only through Him where we find hope and the security of eternal life. He, alone, makes it possible for us to navigate through the hardships.

When I consider the difference of who I was, to who I am now, I recognize change like that can only come from God.

I’m only ‘this’ put together because I’ve allowed the Holy Spirit to work in me. It’s when I take my eyes off Him, I see ‘only’ a mess. Because I’m fallible, I continually need to read and know God’s word so I’m reminded of His will and His truth.

Isaiah 40:8 says ‘the grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God will stand forever’.

And 1 John 2:15-17 says: Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

It’s true! Everything in this life will pass. It will ALL fade away, it’s ALL temporary, we can’t take it with us. None of it matters. For some, you may read this and gasp, and if so, know this—your fancy car, your big house, and even your chocolate Easter eggs don’t matter.

My husband and I catch a hard time because we trade vehicles so much, but it’s never been about “showing off”…more so just poor choice and impatience which results in a regretful vehicle purchase. Even so, the bottom line is—it’s just a vehicle, and ultimately we realize it doesn’t have any “eternal worth.” It will fade away along with any others we purchase and everything else we own.

You don’t take it with you when you go.

My pastor recently said it like this, “We’re only one accident away from losing our life. (We’re never guaranteed anything).”

In other words, one fire away from our home being destroyed, one financial mistake away from losing our belongings, one job-loss away from unstable living. This is true for everyone and no one is immune to this reality. When you consider this stark truth it should cause you to notice how much control we lack.

Nothing and no one are safe from change, except God. He the only thing that is guaranteed to stay the same. Hebrews 13:8 says, Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

To know Him is to read His word.

He’s the same God that changed the heart of Paul who turned away from persecuting believers in the New Testament 2000 years ago. He’s the same God who moved John Wycliffe back in the 1300s when he helped towards translating the Bible into the English language. He’s the same God who later inspired the thoughts and writings of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S.Lewis, Martin Luther King Jr., and countless others.

It’s in following Jesus and believing His word that we find REAL joy—through scripture we experience TRUE value, and through His promises and believing in Him we hold on to ETERNAL hope. The assurance of these things can never be experienced through a chocolate candy, not a caramel filled Easter egg, not even a Ghirardelli chocolate…God is the ONLY answer and the truth of His everlasting word is the only thing in this world that will sustain and provide hope for all time.