Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Don't Make 'Em Hunt For It

Last week, I pulled in to Sonic Drive-In to get a late night snack. As I was perusing the menu, I noticed an Easter-themed promotion of the Sonic Card (aka gift card). It read, “Don’t make ‘em hunt for it”. As Aubrey and I were sitting there trying to decide what we were hungry for, that phrase grabbed my attention and I couldn’t let it go. I turned around to Aubrey and directed her attention to it. I followed it up with, “That’s what I’m going to write about for a bulletin article the week before Easter.” So here it is…

One of the common events around the Easter holiday is egg hunting. I loved trying to find hidden eggs when I was younger. The mystery alone was fun to try and solve, where they are hidden. In addition, who can resist the candy that is put inside? That delicious, cavity-enhancing material is very appealing.

Easter is about the tomb and the Resurrection. In the early morning, the tomb was found empty. However, the days before it was filled. Though it wasn’t filled with chocolate, marshmallows, or jelly beans, it was filled with something sweet – to the soul. Jesus occupied that tomb. Jesus had just been flogged and tormented, resulting in His death on the cross. To make sure he was dead, they pierced His side. Then, they took Him down and laid Him in the tomb.

Three days later, on the first day of the week, two women approached the tomb, only to find it empty. Others looked inside, no Jesus. Where was He? He had risen. Though He had risen, Jesus didn’t even make His followers hunt for Him. He came to them.

The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:16) doesn’t say or allude to the “come” concept. The first imperative in Matthew’s account is “go”. Why do we put the word “come” in our church slogans…i.e. “Come grow with us”? We are taking the lazy way out of the command. We are to go – to them – not expecting them to come – to us.

This next week, the week before Easter, go. Go to the people and let them know the greatness of your Savior. It may lead to questions. It may lead to one being saved. You never know. However, accept His mission to go to the people, not expecting them to come to you.

The sweetness that comes as a result of the Gospel will also create a cavity. A cavity created as Satan and self are pushed out, now can be filled with Jesus!

Remember, don’t make ‘em hunt for it…Go!

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