​So You Made It to Church on Easter

Now what?  Seven months ‘til Christmas?  Sadly, there are scores of people that feel exactly that way.  Now don’t misunderstand, I’m a great advocate of remembering the resurrection.  And I’d be lying if I didn’t say it’s a great blessing for a pastor to see visitors on any weekend of the year.  Easter Sunday is one of those days where visitors are not only welcome, but also expected.  Pastors have an opportunity to preach the Gospel to more people on Easter Sunday than probably any Sunday of the year.  So, if you attended church for the first time since Christmas yesterday, I’m certain the pastor was glad to see you there. 
 
But what are you going to do now?  I have no idea what message you may have heard yesterday unless you were in our congregation.  I hope you heard a clear Gospel message.  My heart’s hope is that the pastor preached Christ crucified for sinners and risen from the grave in resurrection power.  I hope you sang songs that pointed you to a successful Savior Who paid the sin debt of sinners.  Easter is an exciting day for many and certainly the preaching of the Gospel any day of the year is a grand event. 
 
After church yesterday, I perused social media.  My feed was overcome with Easter pictures of family after family after family in their colorful outfits.  I love to see family pictures of people in matching outfits.  I love pastel colors.  I like the fact that bow ties are making a real comeback.  My lovely bride posted one such picture.  It’s nice to see people in church clothes whom I know haven’t been in church for a while.  The concern, though, is that it appears many believe their duty is done for seven months.  Easter is over and Christmas is coming.  This is religious ceremony – not faith in Christ.  It’s the idea that “serving God” two days a year is acceptable – and even appropriate.  Friend, if this is your idea of serving God, something is terribly wrong. 
 
Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23) – Daily…every day of the year.  You cannot serve God two days a year.  That is not the salvation the Bible speaks about.  Oh, I’m glad you sat under the preaching of the Gospel on Easter Sunday – I really am.  But was the Gospel effectually applied to your heart?  Were you changed?  Did you see Jesus truly as the Savior of your sins?  Do you now trust Him alone to resurrect you from the grave and present you as sinless to the Father?  If Easter is over and Christmas is coming, I dare say the message hasn’t changed you.  If the Holy Spirit has opened your heart to the Gospel and indwelled you, there is a desire to follow Jesus - daily.  That’s what it means to be a true disciple. 
 
The writer of Hebrews knew some of the recipients of his letter had forsaken attending church.  He wrote, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25).  Lest you misunderstand, these were people that he assumed had made false professions of faith.  For the record, attending church twice a year is “neglecting to meet together”.  It’s the very definition of neglect. 
 
Friend, I hope you had a good day commemorating the resurrection of Jesus – I truly do.  But if you plan to live 363 days a year devoted to serving yourself, don’t be fooled into believing you have truly been converted to Christ.  John wrote of some that had left off assembling with the saints.  He wrote, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they wentout, that it might become plain that they all are not of us” (1 John 2:19).  Is this you?  Are your plans beginning this coming Sunday to lay out of church again until Christmas?  Then my friend, you needn’t think God was satisfied with your attendance of church on Easter Sunday.  For John declares that you are not “of us”. 
 
Christ is certainly risen from the grave.  We need to commemorate that every week of the year…every Sunday!  But our lives should live in the light of the resurrection every day of the year.  Are you desirous to serve Jesus?  Then, do so daily as He commands.  If there is no such desire, you are not a true disciple.