04/13/20 AFTER-EFFECTS of EASTER—First, let’s set the record straight. It’s Pastor John Green’s fault, NOT mine! He preaches brief, powerful messages which inspire me to write down 7 or 8 ideas I desperately need to post online ASAP.

So, just because Easter has past, I want to consider some of its After-Effects. Surely such a life-changing event must continue to produce evidence and fruit in our lives. Hopefully I’ll get all these ideas posted, 1 day at a time before he preaches again next Sunday…

Think about TV advertisements for various medications. Even as they try to impress us with their marvelous healing properties (usually “not approved by the FDA”!), they warn us about some of the side- and/or after-effects: Shortness of breath, High or Low blood pressure, Headaches, Dizziness, Hallucinations, Digestive upset, Liver problems, Suicidal thoughts and actions, …?? Oh, yeah, gotta get me some of that!

But what are the after-effects of Easter, Resurrection Sunday? Far too many of us (aside from the current CovId-19 “shutdown”) clean up the candy wrappers, put away the baskets and nice new outfits we bought just for the occasion, (vow to return to our New Year’s diets) and return to Business As Usual by Monday, at the latest!??

In 1 Corinthians chapter 15, Paul discusses our two conditions: (1) Pre-Resurrection / In Adam—From our distant ancestor Adam we all inherited a “sin nature.” We are predisposed to satisfy ourselves and disregard and disobey God; we are unable to please Him. And, (2) Post-Resurrection / In Christ—We have the opportunity to experience an Extreme Makeover. Our guilt is replaced with His Perfection and Innocence; and our inability to satisfy God is transformed into our ability to please Him as we complete the “good works He prepared beforehand” for us to do (Eph. 2:10).

In Adam, we are born once, but die twice. In Christ, we are born twice and die only once! Someone said, “It’s not how you start; it’s how you finish.” Finish STRONG—Choose Jesus!