Dear Editor,

The angel spoke to the women: “You must not be afraid, I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here, He has been raised, just as He said. Come here and see the place where He was lying.” (Matthew 28:5-6)

Many of us, especially Christians, during this season of Lent, have decided to abstain from or give up certain things we hold dear as a sacrifice, such as giving up Facebook or YouTube, or giving up our favourite snack or food. That’s a form of sacrifice for us in Lent, and that’s okay.

In this season, many reflect in a deeper way on the ultimate sacrifice that Christ has made for us. He took the sin of the world upon Himself, which meant that He had to give up His life to save us from our sins. Christ Himself is sinless, but He chose to die for us. This demonstration of love gives meaning to life, it gives purpose to life, it has given us redemption. Now we have the privilege to be in fellowship once again with our Creator. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John. 3:16) We sinned and God made the first step to bring us back into fellowship with Him.

Now it’s up to us to accept this demonstration of grace and mercy. We have a part to play to receive this grace and mercy, for the scripture reads: “God has overlooked the times when people did not know Him, but now He commands all of them everywhere to turn away from their evil ways, for He has fixed a day in which He will judge the whole world with justice by means of a man He has chosen. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising that man from death.” (Acts 17:30-31)

Repentance of sins is a must to be back in fellowship with God. The Scripture tells us that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. (Roman 3:23) Repentance is not a one time thing, but a daily act, for sometimes we sin and do not realise it. Let us not just give up some things we hold dear during Lent, but let us give Jesus Christ our life by repenting of our sins and being buried with Christ through baptism and being raised to a transformed, new way of life. (Acts 2:38 and Romans 6:3-4)

By taking these steps you will fulfil your ultimate purpose in life. Some may say getting a good education is their purpose, but that is not our ultimate purpose. Solomon says in the book of Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, “After all this, there is only one thing to say, have reverence for God and obey His commands, because this is all that human beings were created for. God is going to judge everything we do, whether good or bad, even things done in secret.”

God has shown us the greatest love of all. It was while we were still sinners Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) The greatest love a person can have for his friends is to give his life for them. Jesus says, “And you are My friends if you do what I command you.” (John 15:13-14)

Thanks be to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of our sins, for redemptive grace, and for perfect love.

Sonia Fay Buckland

faithfulb7@yahoo.com