If you're on the outside looking in, this story is for you. If you're already on the inside but want a simple way to explain the Easter story to friends and family who are curious, this story is for you. This story is based on my personal experiences seeking the truth. By the way, it was a tax collector named Matthew, tasked with taxing his own people who said, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you (Matthew 7:7).
Outsiders may think the Adam and Eve story is some kind of fairy tale. That's exactly what the dark side wants all of us to believe. It's similar to modern day groups who happen to hate people of Matthew's lineage. They argue the Holocaust never happened. Fake story? I don't think so. Nonbelievers focus on what they consider flaws in the story, like creation happening in a mere seven days. They don't understand how the poets use allegory to paint pictures of creation. What's important to know is that a Divine Creator did all this and God's sense of time is far from our own understanding. How does one create something out of nothing? Only God can answer that question.
Adam and Eve blew it. The serpent found a way to add confusion to paradise. The confusion coupled with subtle temptation caused doom for each and every one of us. It's like when your kids disobey and you have to give them consequences. The top of the list of consequences is death. Like it or not, we are all headed to certain death. The entire human race was condemned to the consequences related to disobedience.
Even though the human race was in what seemed like a perpetual time-out, God the Father devised the perfect plan to set us free from captivity. The plan needed to be covert in order to keep the dark side from further interference. The entire Old Testament is all about the plan for our salvation. This plan was so well disguised that even God's chosen ones who he set apart from the world didn't see it when Jesus entered the picture over 2,000 years ago. Sure, they expected a Savior but Jesus didn't measure up. That's how perfect the disguise was. So, Jesus was executed. This was the centerpiece of the plan. Boom. Jesus went straight to Hell right after he said, "It's finished." He busted down the doors and told the hostages, "Time to come home." The gates of Heaven were opened for the first time. Adam went home. Eve went home. Noah. Every single person who was held captive since the fall was set free right in front of the Dark Side.
That's not the end of the story. Even though Easter is all about the Resurrection, it's also about what happens next. Sorry, God won't tell us exactly when Jesus comes back. There are some pretty good clues if you spend time studying the Bible. The Old Testament is all about God the Father preparing us for salvation. The chosen ones were picked for one special purpose, to deliver a Savior from their lineage. The New Testament is all about how Jesus carried out the rescue plan. Insiders didn't like the idea of including non-jews in the rescue plan. Religious types despised the idea of including tax collectors and prostitutes in the plan. There is even a story about the roman soldier who drove a spear into Jesus converted when his eyes were opened to who Jesus really is, the Son of God. Yep, everyone is invited to the party. That's what the second coming is all about. It's part II of the rescue plan.
Tomorrow is no ordinary day. If the world really knew the truth about Jesus then tomorrow's headlines would be something like this... Dead man comes back to Life! Witnesses claim Jesus is Risen! Believers are willing to die for king who conquered death!
Time is running out for the dark side. The world is in a desperate place. We need Jesus to return. Do what Matthew suggests in Matthew 7:7. Seek and you will find. All of us need to be rescued. And when we find Jesus we need to share the Good News. Don't forget to visit your house of worship on Easter Sunday to thank Jesus for setting the captives free. Have a great day.
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