The Cross: Hope and Second Chances

And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith also is vain. 1 Corinthians 15:14

I yawned and looked in the rear-view mirror on Monday afternoon. Was Easter really over and done with? As my tires rolled off of the driveway this quote was read on K-love. It pretty much described what I was thinking.

"Easter Morning either changes everything, or it changes nothing. It can't just change a couple things." -Bob Goff

We serve a risen Savior! Have you heard the good news? Jesus wasn't left hanging on a cross, and the tomb is empty also! Our salvation is built upon this Love and Power. What an awesome reason to celebrate. My question is, why does our celebration have to stop? Doesn't Christ's sacrifice deserve more than a day of recognition? The love of Christ within us should spill over. His resurrection gives us hope for today, tomorrow, and all of eternity.

I'm a pretty big fan of second chances, but I usually struggle with giving them to others. I cannot tell you how grateful I am that God never had this mentality. He is the King of second chances. We were lost in our sin, but He loved us enough not to leave us there. Our story can have a happily ever after! After accepting Christ as our Savior, God no longer sees us in our sinful state. He sees the image of His Son - the One who took our place. Our sins are blotted out completely! (Acts 3:19)

“In spite of your failures or in spite of your successes, 

our identity is now secure 

because it is not wrapped up in what we do for God 

but what He did for us." -Mike Donehey

The biggest surprise in all of this is that God never demands that we pay Him back. We could forever be in debt to Him, but the price was too tremendous for us to begin with. He opens His loving hands and says, "There is nothing you could do to make me love you any more or any less." He longs for us run to Him with our arms stretched out. This is a Father that loves to be called "Daddy".

Oh, Your cross it changes everything

There my world begins again with You

Oh, Your cross it's where my hope restarts

A second chance is Heaven's heart