Why We Celebrate Easter (no, it's not for chocolate bunnies).

"Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living." - Romans 6:18

There are plenty of things to be slave to in this world. Drunkeness, lust, greed, fear...the list goes on and on. Think none of these things control you? Think about it this way.

If you can't have it, you crave it. You're addicted and you don't even realize it. The feeling you get when you satisfy your craving makes you high. You fall into the temptation all to easily. But you don't even bother fighting it because you believe it's impossible to beat. Why fight when you know you're going to fall into temptation again? It has a hold on you and is slowly stealing the life from you. You can't live without it. You can't even fathom. There's no way to overcome it. You love it. You hate how much you love it, but it's undeniable. You know there's something wrong with what you're doing but you don't want to stop. It keeps you up at night with it's constant nagging to satisfy the craving. It's not a matter of "if" you will. Now it's when, where and how.

I've been there. As a friend bluntly pointed out to me, I was a slave. In light of this, I've been pondering Romans 6:18 lately. I don't have to be a slave to sin anymore. Jesus saved me from the bondage I put myself in.

When Jesus died, He took sin with Him. He made it possible for me to be free from what should kill me. He had me in mind when He died. He knew that in 2012, I would need saving. And if that were the only reason, He still would have done it. That blows my mind. His death brings us life. We don't have to be a slave to our addictions. He gives us power to overcome because He's already overcome. I just have to believe it. Have you ever thought about it that way?

Some people think that religion is old fashioned. Something that our grandparents believe in. But it's so much more than just going to church on Sunday and saying a prayer every once in a while. It's a relationship and He wants to be your best friend. He is here. Right now. Sitting right next to you as you read this. He loves you. He longs for companionship with you. He wants you to experience a life that is soo much greater than the one you're living now. 

There's no to-do list. There's no step-by-step instruction manual. There's nothing you can do to deserve it. All you have to do is believe that God really did send His Son to save you from the bondages of sin. It's nothing you did. There's nothing you can do. "What if I go to church every Sunday?" No. "I'm generally a good person.." No. Stop. Just stop it. It's not about you! Let's be honest. We suck! You may look good in comparison to others but when you compare yourself to the awesomeness of God, you suck! Pride keeps me from realizing this sometimes. I always think "Well, I'm not that bad. I could be doing a lot worse things!" But I am honestly a messed up, idolizing, horrible human being who is just as bad as the people who spit on Jesus and whipped Him.

He died. And yes, it did actually happen. Without His death, there would be no resurrection. No new life. "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 10:10.

It's hard to understand why He would do it. It's hard to fully grasp that it actually happened. But sometimes you gotta stop questioning and just start believing. That's all it takes. "Whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16.

That's it. There's nothing more I can say. He lived a perfect life. Died a horrible death. And rose again. All to save us, mere mortal sinners, from the bondages of sin. And one day we will be in Heaven with Him forever. If you can believe that, you're golden.