From Dust to Easter

An unbeliever who is a friend talked about preparing for his death. He is a professional and responsible man. To help his family he is making sure his Will, Estate, and Funeral plans are all in order. He is sorting through his accumulation of personal items to clear out the clutter to save his children from this task when he is gone. I admire his caring actions for his family. I am also in this process of taking care of last wishes and property decisions. When I talk about a greater life beyond the grave my friend is unconvinced. He thinks there is too much evil, pain and suffering in this world for a God of love to be real. He thinks that after the cremation of his mortal remains the story of his life will be over. The message of Easter is that our human life story will not end in dust of the earth. The Scriptures do witness that we are made from the dust of the earth and to dust we will return. The Lord's love and moral justice will not end with dust. There is too much love, compassion, courage and righteousness done by good people to have it all end in the dirt. There is too much cruelty, injustice, evil,greed and hatred done by the wicked for the Lord of Justice to not demand accountability. When the Apostle Peter was summing up the main message of the resurrection for the Roman people gathered at the house of Cornelius he said,"They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as Judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." Acts 10:39-43. Easter tells me that the Lord is not through with us after our last breath. There is accountability, reward and consequences when our spirit meets with God. Jesus is our Judge for eternity. The wicked who think they have gotten away with their lies and cruel deeds will be so wrong. Like my friend I also grieve over the suffering and pain of the oppressed of our world. It is my trust that the Lord will not let their suffering be in vain. The Lord's mercy, compassion and generous rewards are not limited by our earthly years. The Lord's suffering and death were cruel and without mercy. Yet through his suffering God brought us the victory of resurrection over the worst of human sin. Easter calls me to remember this hope, "I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory about to be revealed to us." Romans 8:18. We are made of dust but it is not our future hope.