Easter holds a special place in my cache of memorable events because it was at an Easter Youth Camp that the Gospel suddenly made an impact on me. That was in New Zealand, some 34 years ago. What I saw in the other young people got me thinking, “What is it they have that I don’t have?”

Later at one of the evening meetings, at the end of his message, the preacher gave an invitation, “All those who have Christ “dead” in them, please stand up.” By that time I had already known enough about the Christian faith (I had sparred much with my Christian hostel-mates in the short few months) to understand that the invitation did not apply to me. How could I have Christ “dead” in me when I don’t have Christ in the first place? I knew that the preacher was addressing Christians who already had Christ in them but in their backslidden spiritual state Christ was “dead” in them. It was an Easter message applied—Christ had to “come alive” again in their hearts.

Even as the thought raced through my mind, the preacher isn’t referring to me, somehow something (Someone) caused me to stand up. Although I did not “receive Jesus” at the camp, nonetheless, that moment was the turning point in my spiritual journey to discover the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that would change my life and the direction of my life forever.

I pray that the message of the sacrificial death and resurrection triumph of Jesus will also forever change your life. He died for your sins and He rose again to give you eternal life. For me, 34 years hence, the message has only grown fuller and etched more deeply in my soul. May it be the same for those of you who have been Christians for a long time. May we never ever become over-familiar with the Cross of Christ nor fail to be awed by the glory of His resurrection. This is the centrepiece and masterpiece of the Gospel.

The Bible says, "(Jesus) Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Ph 2:6-11)

The words of a great old hymn by Alfred H Ackely echo:

I serve a risen Savior, He's in the world today.
I know that He is living, Whatever men may say.
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer.
And just the time I need Him, He's always near. He lives! He lives! 
Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life's narrow way.
He lives! He lives! 
Salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives? 
He lives within my heart.                                                

                                                                                                                   Hallelujah!

                                                                                                                       PrSH