“The Road to a Batter Life: Take Advantage of Easter”
Hebrews 13:20-22
A man named Gianni Versace was being interviewed about his successes in life. He concluded, “I’m happy to live, I live intensely, and I don’t have regrets.” Then he was asked if he was religious. His expression changed to a mischievous grin. “Yes, I believe in God, but I’m not the kind of religious person who goes to church, who believes in the fairy tale of Jesus born in the stable with the donkey. That, no – I’m not stupid. I can’t believe that God, with all the power that he has, had to have himself born in a stable. ... it wouldn’t have been comfortable!” (1) He failed to take advantage of Easter; God, the Father of Jesus, didn’t fit his perspective of life. If only he had understood and responded to this wonderful benediction in the book of Hebrews, chapter thirteen, verses 20-21; it tells how to take advantage of Easter.
First, LET GOD EMBRACE YOU. Verse 20; “May the God of peace...” God wants to embrace us WITH PEACE. Peace is a major concept throughout Scripture. The Old Testament word – shalom – is more than the cessation or absence of war. It encompasses all our daily relationships - with the world around us, with God, with others, and with ourselves. It stands for wholeness, well being, and harmony. Yet God is seldom referred to as a God of peace; rather He is seen as a God of power, war, strength, the mighty warrior. But in the New Testament this harmony and well being are associated with God. The New Testament begins with angels singing hymns of peace and leads to a picture of celebrating the unbroken union with the Father. Jesus said (Jn. 14): “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
No matter what you’re feeling today, no matter how turbulent your life, no matter how tempestuous the storm that swirls around you, no matter how shaky or fragile your relationships – God wants to embrace you with His peace. Take advantage of Easter.
To be sure we understand this peace the author continues: let God embrace you WITH HIS ETERNAL COVENANT. “…who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the Sheep…” God brought Jesus back from the dead for the sole purpose of allowing us to be at peace with God. God had promised to forgive when the proper blood had been shed. Jesus’ blood paid the price. As the Apostle John put it (I Jn. 4:10), “…God loved us and sent his Son as the one who would turn aside his wrath, taking away our sins.” GOD IS FAITHFUL TO FORGIVE. No matter how grievous you feel your sins are, no matter how heavy your load of guilt, because of Easter you can be forgiven. As Paul later wrote (Rom. 8:1 GNT) “There is no condemnation now for those who live in union with Christ Jesus.”
“…for those who live in union with Christ Jesus.” Back in chapters 8-10 Hebrews talked about the new and living way into the presence of the Father. Remember that when Jesus died the curtain in the temple was torn in two. From that moment on we could be in the presence of God and experience not death but peace, not eternal damnation but grace. Both Paul and Hebrews are urging us to make a firm commitment to Jesus Christ.
In his novel, Edge of Eternity, Randy Alcorn has the main character, Nick, reflect upon how different things are now that He has encountered the risen, reigning Lord Jesus Christ. “I remembered now why I'd stopped looking at the stars. They made me feel so lonely, so disconnected. But not anymore. Seeing the stars now was like rereading a book after meeting the author – it seemed like the very first time. I'd lived an unconnected life. But I was connected now, to the King, to his creation, and to my traveling companions. I'd grown bone-weary of playing God. It was a big job, and I'd finally discovered I was too small to pull it off. It was hard to abdicate the throne – but what a relief now that I had.” (2) WE MUST GIVE UP OUR INDEPENDENCE AND NEED TO CONTROL AND UNDERSTAND. Take advantage of Easter.
As a young doctor, Dr. Tom Dooley organized hospitals, raised money, and literally poured out his life in the service of the afflicted peoples of Southeast Asia. He abandoned a career in the United States for missionary service. He died at the age of 34 from cancer. Shortly before his death he wrote to the president of his alma mater, Notre Dame. ”They’ve got me down. Flat on the back, with plaster, salt bags, and hot water bottles. I’ve contrived a way of pumping the bed up a bit so that, with a long reach, I can get to my typewriter...Two things prompt this note to you. The first is that whenever my cancer acts up a bit....I turn inward. Less do I think of my hospitals around the world....More do I think of one Divine Doctor and his personal fund of grace. (He explains the spread of his cancer). “...But when the time comes, like now, then the storm around me does not matter. The winds...do not matter. Nothing earthly can touch me. A peace gathers in my heart. What seems unpossessable, I can possess. What seems unfathomable, I can fathom. What is unutterable, I can utter. Because I can pray. I can communicate. How do people endure anything on earth if they cannot have God?
This faith was possible because He let God embrace him. Paul wrote, (Col. 1:20-21), “At one time you were far away from God and were his enemies because of the evil things you did and thought. But now, by means of the physical death of his Son, God has made you his friends, in order to bring you, holy, pure, and faultless, into his presence.” Today consider Jesus Christ. Through Christ, let God embrace you with His peace and forgiveness. Take advantage of Easter.
Secondly, LET GOD EQUIP YOU. “May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep equip you...” The word ‘equip’ is the word used for setting a broken bone. It means to make perfect, to adjust, to put in joint. God wants to adjust our relationship by equipping us to live life to the fullest. The passage continues: “...equip you WITH EVERYTHING GOOD...” He gives us whatever good we need. I was once given this copy of an advertisement. “Lust, greed, power, sex, envy...all for 99 cents!” That’s what money can buy. But you know what? WE CAN HAVE EVERYTHING WE REALLY NEED - health, prosperity, security, peace - without paying even a dime; they come from a relationship with Jesus Christ.
To the Corinthians Paul wrote, “...you have been enriched in every way...you do not lack any spiritual gift...” God has given us all the gifts, talents, relationships, money, opportunities we need. He gives us the complete equipment to live out our constant relationship with Him. As Paul wrote the Romans, if God gave His son for us will He not also give us all things with him? Again, to Corinth, he wrote: “Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously ... And God is able to make ALL grace abound to you, so that in ALL things at ALL times, having ALL that you need, you will abound in EVERY good work. ... Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in EVERY way, so that you can be generous on EVERY occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”
But we must be equipped. We are not here just to wander around and enjoy life like a tourist. We must prepare ourselves to receive the equipment God offers. A good chef does not wait until one hour before a major 10 course dinner to plan the menu; he works it out well in advance. Farmers do not lie around all winter waiting for spring; they prepare the farm and equipment for the coming season. So we must continually prepare ourselves to be equipped for the coming spring. It involves living a disciplined life, spending regular time with God planting His Word within our hearts and minds.
God wants to equip us with everything good FOR THE DOING OF HIS WILL. “May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep equip you with everything goods for the doing of his will.” We are here to do God’s will. In Ephesians Paul tells us we were created for good works, which God has already prepared before hand for us to do. Peter tells us we have everything we need for living godly lives. We do God’s will not to earn merit badges or pile up heavenly credit, but because it’s what we have been created to do; it’s what God equips us to do. In verse 15-16 of chapter 13 – Hebrews emphasizes a two-pronged LIFE OF WORSHIP AND WITNESS: “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
William Arthur Ward wrote: “Each of us will one day be judged by our standard of life, not by our standard of living; by our measure of giving, not by our measure of wealth; by our simple goodness, not seeming greatness.” There is no higher aim in life than to do God’s will, to do good to others and so point them to Him. Jesus said, repeatedly, it was the purpose of his life. What a difference it makes. A. W. Tozer said: “Let a (person) set his heart only on doing the will of God and he is instantly free. If we understand our first and sole duty to consist of loving God supremely and loving everyone, even our enemies, for God’s dear sake, then we can enjoy spiritual tranquility under every circumstance.” God wants to embrace and equip you. Take advantage of Easter.
The third way to take advantage of Easter is to LET GOD ENABLE YOU. Again, from Hebrews: “May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep equip you with everything good for the doing of his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him..” God wants to WORK IN US WHAT IS PLEASING TO HIM. Our prayer should seldom be, “Lord, change my
circumstances.” Rather, it should most often be, “Lord, change me.” And we do not need to fear God; He will not harm us! It’s a blow to our pride to let God take control, but it is the way to freedom. Years ago, a man named Fenelon wrote: “Embrace the difficult circumstances you find yourself in. Allow God to mold you through the events He allows to enter your life. This will make you flexible toward the will of God. The events of life are like a furnace for the heart. All your impurities are melted...the intrusions that God sends you will no doubt upset your plans and oppose all that you want. But they will chase you toward God.” That’s tough for those of us who love to manage by objectives, to keep on top of everything, to stay in control. The longer I’m in ministry the more I realize, sometimes painfully, that I simply need to make myself more available to God, to let Him have His way. Have you ever come to the point in your life where you said, “There must be more to life than this!”? Well there is – it’s simply the opportune time to PRAY NOT “USE ME,” BUT “CHANGE ME.” It takes a tremendous attitude adjustment, but it makes all the difference in the world. During the great depression a man had endured many heartbreaks and losses, including the loss of his wife and home. All he had left was his faith and even it was very tenuous. One day he stopped to watch some men doing stone work on a church. One craftsman was chiseling an unusual-shaped piece of rock. “What are you going to do with that?” he asked. Said the craftsman, “Do you see that small opening way up there near the spire? Well, I am shaping this down here so that it will fit up there.” As he walked away from the scene the man’s eyes filled with tears as he realized God had spoken to him about his trials. God shapes us down here so that we will fit up there! Let God enable you, to work in you what is pleasing to Him. Take advantage of Easter.
And allow God to WORK THROUGH US WHAT IS PLEASING TO HIM. He wants to work not only in but through us. He will help us give ourselves away. The whole of Chapter 13 of Hebrews is about doing for others, about serving and loving. God wants to build his kingdom through us. God never gives us a task without the power to do it; He never gives us a vision without the power to follow it; we never go to any task of His with only our own resources. God works through us to turn others to Himself.
This great benediction ends with “…through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” So THE END OF ALL OUR ACTS IS TO PRAISE GOD. Peter wrote (2 Pt. 2:9-10 CEV) “God has brought you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Now you must tell all the wonderful things that he has done.” Our lives can be a doxology to Him. Our lives are to be blessings to others. We are to proclaim and demonstrate the superiority of Jesus to anything and everything that we might otherwise worship and honor. And we can - because God is waiting eagerly to help us be who He intends us to be. A minister named Max, spent each Monday in Ft. Lauderdale with the homeless and street people. He became good friends with another man, named Archie. Archie had severe gout in each foot and could barely walk. Each day he sold newspapers out on the sidewalk; it was his livelihood. Rain or shine, he was there. He needed the money to pay the rent for his little one room apartment and for food. One day Max noticed Archie had an excited look on his face as he invited Max to come and see his apartment. Max was hesitant but he knew he needed to. They arrived as Archie said he had been saving his money. He threw open the door and said, “Look!” He pointed, in this dingy small one room apartment with a ripped sofa with no stuffing, to a junky little black and white TV. No rabbit ears, just a hanger. And there was a recliner - all Archie’s! He had saved a long time for this. Archie looked at Max and said, “I have all I need now.” But Max noticed that in the recliner was another man, another street person. Max asked, “What’s he doing here?” Archie said, without hesitation, “He needs a place to stay. Now that I have all I need, don’t you think I should share?” Is God working in and through you what is pleasing to Him? Is your life bringing glory to God?
Near the end of Alcorn’s Edge of Eternity Nick returns to earth to go back to his family; he’s a transformed man, ready to take advantage of Easter. “The clouds broke and I saw the sun. I'd returned to a world of death and darkness but with windows to life and light. As I drove west toward my family, I searched the sky in vain, looking for Charis. In my mind's eye I could see a great shining city on a hill, and beyond it a country of unimaginable wonder. It was there when I saw it, I told myself, and there when I did not. Things are not as they appear. I walk between two worlds. I stand on the edge of eternity. I thank the King for whatever time he's given me. Here, in this brief window of opportunity. Here, in this land of second chances.” (3)
God is giving you another chance, another opportunity. Take advantage of Easter. Receive Jesus Christ as your Savior; or recommit to Him as your Lord. Resolve and pray to do His will. Let go – of whatever you’re clinging to. Let go -- and let God embrace you, equip you, enable you. He’s all you need.
(1) Rev. John Huffman, Recommitment Mandate, p. 3 – from preachingtoday.com
(2) Edge of Eternity, Randy Alcorn, Waterbrook Press, Colorado Springs, Colorado, © 1998 by Eternal Perspective Ministries, p. 138
(3) Ibid, p. 325
