Deliverance

Happy Easter to you all.  It is one of my favorite holidays as it commemorates the most important series of events that have ever happened on the earth. Its very roots started before the world was created, when we existed as spirit children of our Heavenly Father and a plan was made for us to have a mortal experience.  The earth was created by our brother and first begotten son of God, Jesus Christ.  We chose to come to earth in this plan, born in families to our earthly parents.

This earth is a precious gift to all of us.  The beauty and majesty of nature point to her divine creator. It also comes with "thorns and thistles" and yes, even viruses, sickness and death.  It has been so since Adam and Eve. I do not believe that God has purposely cursed the earth with the COVID-19 virus. I believe it is the process of natural consequences.  We knew before coming to earth that there would be challenges, that we would be tested.  It was part of the plan.  The test for us is whether we will allow our Father to bless our lives as we seek for deliverance.

Easter hearkens back to Ancient Israel, to the passover when the children of Israel we spared from a desolating scourge by spreading the blood of a sacrificed lamb on the doors of their homes.  Perhaps in the days to come, we may also be spared through protective vaccination.  Certainly, the homes that are adhering to strict social distancing can greatly enhance their ability to be "passed by." Not being able to return to our heavenly home would be an even greater desolation than anything COVID-19 could ever extract. Ultimately it is the effects of poor choices or sin that distance ourselves from God.  Jesus became the sacrificial lamb.  As we symbolically apply his blood, his life saving sacrifice, to the doorways of our heart, we will conquer even death itself.  To me, that is the power of watching EMS personal, police, nurses and families who offer assistance to others. They are offering a sacred gift so that others' suffering may be alleviated.  There is no greater christlike service than this.

The glory of Easter, though is not about blood, gloom and death. The glory of Easter is that Christ rose from the grave on the third day and conquered death.  He was resurrected and opened the doors so that we all may be as well.  The easter egg symbolizes this new birth. It is the season of spring when new growth, blossoms and leaves come out in all their wonder after the dark and cold winter.  As families, cities, states and nations of the world, we too will come out of the winter pandemic that is COVID-19 and life will come again.  In my own family, my grandsons keep us real. They don't dwell on the negative. The four year old just says, "when the sickness is over, you can come to my house and we will play cars."  It is impossible to see their bright smiling faces and not smile yourself.  My daughter-in-law is due to deliver her baby any day now. We are so excited for them. Our granddaughter may be coming into an uncertain world, but what a wonderful world it will be.