With Easter bringing this holy week to a close I am reminded of an experience I had while cleaning out a neglected cupboard several years ago. Shoved to the back a tray of silverware waited, nestled among a few stale pretzels that escaped their bag.
I recognized the pattern.
The tableware came from my mother’s estate. Though I didn’t remember putting the tray there, the tarnished condition of the knives, forks and spoons said they’d been neglected awhile. I didn’t want them, nor did I have any need. But in their present state, no one else would either.
I dug out my silver cleaner to see if polish would help.
As black as these pieces were, I doubted I’d make a difference. I lavished the cleaner on a spoon and rubbed. To my surprise, a silver handle emerged from beneath the layer of grime. I worked for several minutes on the pattern, letting each little flower have a good dose of goop. Soon the pattern gleamed back at me. I polished a few pieces each day, allowing my fingers time to rest between rubbings. As the week progressed, the silver-plate shone, one piece at a time.
By week’s end I owned a new set of silver.
Venturing into that darkened cupboard, I was reminded how God sent his son Jesus to a dying world corrupted by the darkness of evil. He knew each of us needed to have our layer of sin lifted from blackened hearts. All of us, the scriptures teach, have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
Just like the silver cleaner covered the blackened tableware, Jesus shed blood to cover our tarnished hearts, washing away the stain on our souls. All we need to do is believe and accept the gift of his sacrifice on our lives. Eternal life awaits us. Acts 16:31 says: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” That’s all He asks of us.
Like the spoon, our lives can shine for Him. Jesus can polish our souls. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things have passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (II Corinthians 5:17)
Think of the shine your heart will have when Jesus makes it new. Happy Easter.
Easter makes me think of my Dad and the fun we had finding the little/ big gifts that him and Mom used to hide around the place when were kids and before we lost him.
Each year that I get to spend Easter in church thanking Jesus, not only for taking my place at the cross, but for rising from the tomb – victorious over death, is a favorite to spend Easter. A bonus is that our extended family gets together for a lovely dinner after church. It’s such a special way to celebrate that He is risen!
Easter memories are always of worship services. My family emphasized the spiritual aspect of Easter and didn’t indulge us in Easter baskets, chocolate bunnies, etc.
Yes
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