“THE FATE OF OLD OBSERVANCES”
Old observances, holidays, and remembrances that are based on historical events tend to die out. It’s inevitable. Just think of V-E Day, AKA Victory in Europe Day (May 8th). Who celebrates it today – I mean, really celebrates it, with kids off from school and the like? Who celebrates V-J Day – Victory over Japan Day (August 14th)? Only one state, Rhode Island, continues to formally observe this day. But even Rhode Island will one day discard it as an irrelevant relic of the past.
Other significant events take place and overshadow the old events that were once celebrated but are now a distant memory. That seems to be the fate of Pearl Harbor Day, December 7th. September 11th has taken its place. Those few who remember Pearl Harbor are a dying breed. September 11th has been so charged with grief and anger that it eclipsed December 7th.
The fact is that unless a historical observance is bolstered with a day off from work and the support of the government, it’s going to fade away. New generations arise that didn’t experience that historical event and cannot possibly appreciate it. The old generations that lived through the event died out.
There is one exception to this phenomenon – Easter, AKA Resurrection Sunday. There seems to be no incentive to observe Easter. It offers no day off from work. In the military, I’ve known people who deployed on Easter Sunday – so it gets no support from the government and it’s got plenty of competition. And so much of academia has dedicated itself to proving that no such event as the Resurrection ever took place. So our Western culture is hostile to it. But the worst thing about Easter is that it celebrates an event that took place so long ago that no one alive today could have possibly lived through it. Right?
Wrong! Millions today have lived through it and continue to feel its power in their lives. All true believers in Jesus have experienced the Resurrection for themselves when they were born again by the Spirit of God.
Everyone whose night has been turned to day, everyone whose sorrow has been turned to celebration, and everyone whose despair has changed to inexpressible joy has experienced Christ’s Resurrection.
That’s why Resurrection Sunday is alive today! It’s the living experience of everyone who’s been touched by the power of Jesus. As Paul the apostle explained, “just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives” (Romans 6:4, NLT). And despite 2,000 years of persecutions, competition, and cultural revolutions, Easter Sunday continues to reign as the “Super Holy Day” of Planet Earth. The Resurrection of Jesus continues to change the lives of all people who put their faith in Christ. Its celebration will never cease.
PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, to You, I open the door of my heart and life. Please change me, free me, and save me with Your resurrection power. In The Name above every name, Amen.
(From The 593rd ESC Book of Inspiration for Spiritual Resiliency)