By Dickson Tumuramye
This month of April 2021 is yet another opportunity for Christians to celebrate the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ to Heaven. Easter Sunday comes with good news of mankind’s redemption from sins and affirmation of their faith in eternal life.
From John 3:3, Christ Jesus assures Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, that “unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of Heaven”.
This fulfills the reason God so loved us that He gave us His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16).
It is such sacrificial love that Christ accepted to die for all sinners. He was condemned, crucified and died a criminal’s death on a cross (Philippians 2:8), yet He lived a selfless and obedient life.
Remembering such kind of innocent death, it gives us more joy to commemorate a new chapter of Christian life. However, many Christians celebrate such a day in wrong ways that do not depict the reason Christ Jesus came to die for them.
It is the day some drink a lot of alcoholic substances, remember to go clubbing, and do all sorts of worldly things. This leaves me wondering if that fulfills our call and great commission as Christians.
In some places children participate in activities like Easter egg hunts, sharing chocolate eggs and traditional food, busting out the egg dyeing kits, among others.
It is from such background that I feel parents should be exemplary to their children and teach them the true meaning and importance of Easter in one’s life.
Time to separate ourselves from world pleasures
The children of God should not be conformed to the standards of this world (Romans 12:2). The Easter season starts with 40 days of lent among Christians.
This is a time to be transformed by the renewing of our minds so that our lives are not after worldly pleasures, but to know what God wants us to do.
Relationship with Christ
Children need to be taught what it means to have a personal relationship with Christ. The journey for one to inherit the Kingdom of God starts with one accepting Him as the Lord and Savior.
Therefore, train up your children in knowing Christ at a personal level and how it relates to their lives. They need to know that unless one is born again, they will perish and go to hell.
Time to repent
I regard this time as special because it gives us an opportunity to repent our sins after getting to know the reason Christ was crucified.
Repentance is a daily action but in this case, there is a lot of meditation on the grace of God.
Christians can make a self-reflection on their daily walk with Christ. If Christ was to come back today, would He find any righteous?
Sharing with others
As our Heavenly Father was not selfish and gave up His only begotten Son as atonement for our sins, there is no other way we can show love and care to the vulnerable people or neighbors than that. Before Christ died, He shared with the poor, fed the hungry with little He had.
He taught about love for our neighbors. We, too, can share with those in need for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7).
Opportunity to preach the Gospel
There is nothing wrong for you and your family to reach out to others and spread the Gospel of salvation. You can share with others the meaning of Easter and what is required of us for one to be a true disciple of Christ.
Before His ascension to Heaven, He said to His disciples: “Go into the entire world and preach the Gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned,” Mark 16:15.
Therefore, we are commissioned to be good disciples and make more disciples for Christ (Matthew. 28:19).
I wish you a Happy Easter 2021.
The writer is a child advocate, parenting coach, marriage counsellor.
tumudickson@gmail.com
0772/0702851863.
