April 2001
A Celebration of Life
By Germaine Copeland
Jesus is alive! He is not a myth or a fairy tale. He lives; I know He lives! He is my best Friend and my elder Brother. He is the Sun who rose with healing in His wings, my Redeemer.
This was not always true for me. In my formative years, I was taught a concept of Jesus, but He seemed far removed from where I lived; how could I possibly trust someone I didn’t know. Easter meant an Easter egg hunt, chocolate bunnies, pretty new clothes and a day of pageantry at the church where my Dad was pastor, and usually a sunrise service.
Each spring, just as the golden forsythia and jonquils appeared, we were busy with extra choir rehearsals. The true meaning of this celebration escaped me. Who was this Person I did not understand? Did He really exist? The church gave me rules and regulations, but did not give me answers to life’s enigmas, and my world grew more complex with the passage of time.
The desire to understand the meaning of life and where I was going became my motivation for living, but none of my efforts made any difference – only wind blowing here and there, but going nowhere. Having walked many capricious philosophical pathways, I decided to give God one more chance. I cried out for truth – the truth and wisdom of the ages.
One day while sitting at my kitchen table, radiant beams filtered through the dark recesses of my soul, and the Truth I had searched for appeared. With each beam of light I saw that there was more to life than I had ever known before! Later I would read, “What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by (John 1:4 The Message Bible).
In that moment all the memories and emotion from countless hurts and disappointments rushed pass me, and I realized that old things were passing away. Behold, all things became new, and I embarked on a new exciting journey flooded with light.
There are answers to life’s enigmas. If life is passing you by, and you are struggling with self-doubt, feelings of inferiority and insecurity, Jesus is waiting to give you life in all its fullness – the more abundant life – a life of composure and stability.
The true meaning of Easter is resurrection power that will turn your gloom to joy, your turmoil to peace, your depression to hope. Jesus will transform your life, give you a reason to live, show you the pathway of Life, and He will help you become your true self. Truth is a Person. His name is Jesus.
Germaine Copeland is the author of the best selling book series, Prayers That Avail Much. She has written scriptural prayers for the family. Read your Bible, pray and attend church where you can soak up the love and faith of God. You will receive emotional healing, experience spiritual growth and become more intimately acquainted with your Heavenly Father, and your relationships will grow stronger.