To Live is To Believe

There was a high-wire acrobat who wanted to show his amazing skills by crossing adjacent towering buildings 30 meters apart by walking on a thin metal cable attached from both ends. The crowd held their breath as the acrobat carefully threaded the wire, pausing at times, whenever the wind showed slight gusts that could make him lose his precarious balance. After finally crossing the other side, all the people below clapped and cheered his feat. The acrobat’s assistant on the ground shouted that for his next trick, he would cross again on the wire while pushing a modified wheelbarrow. The assistant asked the crowd if they believe that he can do that and they all chorused in agreement. Once again, the acrobat successfully showed his incredible skill to everyone’s delight. At last, his assistant again shouted that for his last trick, he will once again cross on the wire with the wheel-barrow but now with a person riding on it. And the crowd went wild in cheering appreciation to show their belief that he can do it after having witnessed the first two acts. When the noise simmered down, his assistant, without batting an eyelash, asked the crowd if anybody will be willing to be the one to ride the wheelbarrow. A deafening silence came. One by one, the assistant approached everybody in the crowd and, one by one, each person approached walked away until there was nobody left in the crowd.

Today is Easter Sunday. Today is the day the Lord has risen, as prophesied in the old times and as shared by the Lord to His disciples on some occasions of misunderstood predictions. The agonizing suffering, pain and humiliation is over. The mission is completed. God the Father has glorified His beloved Son who have finally won our redemption. We are now fully liberated from the permanent effects of the original sin. Our heavenly inheritance is restored.

Our Lord is alive, historically and physically speaking, as testified by all those who witnessed His resurrected self.

The tomb is empty. The linen cloths are lying around. Mary Magdalene and the holy women were the first to witness the event. Peter and John followed. The apostles in fearful hiding after His arrests saw how Jesus appeared in their midst despite the closed doors. Thomas who was absent at the first meeting had his chance to cast away all his doubts after Jesus allowed him to touch all the physical wounds He endured during His passion. The disciples on the road to Emmaus conversed and shared a meal with Him. The events of first Easter transcended the common notion of simply seeing to believe because all those who witnessed the risen Lord were forever converted and empowered to preach and live a fearless life based on His preaching and His call to evangelize all men to the ends of the earth.

As Christians, we believe in all these biblical accounts and traditions told about Christ’s resurrection. But whether we have fully embraced this truth in loving faith and obedience is another question for us to reflect on. A lot of times, we preferr to be just cheering (at times, even rock-still) spectators of God’s works through other people. We are anxious and fearful of leaving our comfort zones. Just like the spectators of the acrobat, we believe in Jesus as long as we will not be disturbed in our daily lives. But as Christians, it is essential that we live a life of faith following Jesus’ lead – obedient to the Father’s will, lover of repentant sinners, opposition to sinfulness, just and merciful, healer of wounded heart’s and spirits, follower of the true laws of love, a good Shepherd to those in need of guidance. There is no other way for other people to see our belief in Christ than to see our faith lived well in accordance to His will. As it has been often told, the greatest and most influential bible that a person can see and be evangelized with is the imperfect and struggling yet focused life of the Christian to become holy.

Finally, for those who still have their doubts about accepting Jesus as their Savior and Redeemer, our prayer is that you will not postpone it any longer.
If you will do it sometime, why not now?
If you will do it somewhere, why not start in your heart?

A blessed and happy Easter to all.