Jesus died on the cross for nothing. He died in vain because the devil won. What is the point of living? We are forever stuck in our sin, with no joy and no hope for a better future…
APRIL FOOLS!
Happy Easter! Today is a day of celebration! When Jesus died on the cross the story doesn’t end there. He went down to Hell, beat the devil, and proved He is all powerful. He has victory! He is King above all Kings who took our place received the consequence of death we deserve. Our sins are no longer ours to bear, because He payed it all! Greater is He who is in me, for He has overcome the world. Today is a day to celebrate for He has risen!
Easter is a day meant for much more than a strangely large bunny who takes pleasure in taking eggs from kids and hiding it from them. Today is a day of focused remembrance on what Christ did for us. For if we don’t remember what Christ did for us then what’s the point of being a Christian. It’s that unexplainable, incomparable, undeniable love that Christ showed us through conquering sin and death by sacrificing himself on the cross that makes me overwhelmed. Overwhelmed with a desire to love and serve Him as much as I can. However, as much as I try, I can never come close to repaying the debt I owe, but that’s ok because that’s not why I serve. I serve and live for Christ out of the overflow of love that He has for me. Living a life for Christ is not easy, in fact all but one of the apostles were killed. I read this on Facebook the other day and it blows my mind.
“HOW THE APOSTLES DIED.
1. Matthew
Suffered martyrdom in Ethiopia, Killed by a sword wound.
2. Mark
Died in Alexandria, Egypt , after being dragged by Horses through the streets until he was dead.
3. Luke
Was hanged in Greece as a result of his tremendous Preaching to the lost.
4. John
Faced martyrdom when he was boiled in huge Basin of boiling oil during a wave of persecution In Rome. However, he was miraculously delivered From death.
John was then sentenced to the mines on the prison Island of Patmos. He wrote his prophetic Book of Revelation on Patmos . The apostle John was later freed and returned to serve As Bishop of Edessa in modern Turkey . He died as an old man, the only apostle to die peacefully
5. Peter
He was crucified upside down on an x-shaped cross.
According to church tradition it was because he told his tormentors that he felt unworthy to die In the same way that Jesus Christ had died.
6. James
The leader of the church in Jerusalem , was thrown over a hundred feet down from the southeast pinnacle of the Temple when he refused to deny his faith in Christ. When they discovered that he survived the fall, his
enemies beat James to death with a fuller’s club.
* This was the same pinnacle where Satan had taken Jesus during the Temptation.
7. James the Son of Zebedee,
was a fisherman by trade when Jesus Called him to a lifetime of ministry. As a strong leader of the church, James was beheaded at Jerusalem. The Roman officer who guarded James watched amazed as James defended his faith at his trial. Later, the officer Walked beside James to the place of execution. Overcome by conviction, he declared his new faith to the judge and Knelt beside James to accept beheading as a Christian.
8. Bartholomew
Also known as Nathaniel Was a missionary to Asia. He witnessed for our Lord in present day Turkey. Bartholomew was martyred for his preaching in Armenia where he was flayed to death by a whip.
9. Andrew
Was crucified on an x-shaped cross in Patras, Greece. After being whipped severely by seven soldiers they tied his body to the cross with cords to prolong his agony. His followers reported that, when he was led toward the cross, Andrew saluted it in these words: ‘I have long desired and expected this happy hour. The cross has been consecrated by the body of Christ hanging on it.’ He continued to preach to his tormentors For two days until he expired.
10. Thomas
Was stabbed with a spear in India during one of his missionary trips to establish the church in the Sub-continent.
11. Jude
Was killed with arrows when he refused to deny his faith in Christ.
12. Matthias
The apostle chosen to replace the traitor Judas Iscariot, was stoned and then beheaded.
13. Paul
Was tortured and then beheaded by the evil Emperor Nero at Rome in A.D. 67. Paul endured a lengthy imprisonment, which allowed him to write his many
epistles to the churches he had formed throughout the Roman Empire. These letters, which taught many of the foundational Doctrines of Christianity, form a large portion of the New Testament.”
Why would they die for what they believe in? Because it is true and it is a cause worth dying for! These men of faith prove how real this love from God is.
We have been given this amazing gift of salvation but so many have decided to not receive it. If this is where you find yourself I plea to you to reconsider. Choosing to follow Christ is the best decision you can make and what a better day to make that decision than today! Don’t be a fool, accept the amazing gift that is eternal life with a God who loves you more than you know!
