Would You Have Been Faithful?
Growing up, Easter was a holiday we looked forward to for many different reasons. For some it would be time to go to the villages and meet as the entire clan and enjoy the gathering, not necessarily the Christ. For some it was time to go on a holiday at some resort. I used to look forward to going to the church conference and sometimes it would be held away from home, which made it more exciting being on the bus with other fellow believers and traveling a long distance.
I remember my English teacher in high school who played his guitar with passion as he played the song, “He could have called out, ten thousand angels to destroy the world and set him free, but he died alone for you and me.” As the memories of my childhood celebration of Easter rang in my mind, a question also arose. If I was standing at Golgotha watching Christ being crucified, would I have still believed that He was my Saviour?
Maybe like Pilate’s wife, she had to suffer many things in a dream for her to try to convince her husband to not have anything to do with him or pass a judgement. Would I have joined the team who either thought to themselves or shouted out loud that he saved others but could not save himself? If he was the king of Israel let him come from the cross and we will believe him! Would I have been challenged to trust in God more or I would also have joined those who said He trusted in God, let Him deliver Him now if he will have him, because he said He is the son of God?
Believing when everything is going well is not a challenge. It is that moment when you are in trouble and God seems quiet that poses the challenge of whether we will remain faithful or not. I guess those who asked questions when Jesus was on the cross and it seemed as if it was over, were being what we call realistic at that moment. When you walk with God the circumstances that you see do not determine whether God is able or not. Eric Felten states, “The only true test of Loyalty is fidelity in the face of ruin and despair.”
We might not have seen Jesus on the cross to doubt His power, but we are surrounded by many circumstances that challenge our faith and can easily make us ask or say the same as those who saw him on the cross. Luke 18:8 states that “When the son of man comes will he really find faith on earth?
What does Easter celebration remind you of? Does it remind you of a faithful God who even when we are faithless still remains faithful? Or will you join the team that determined their faithfulness on what they saw before the resurrection Sunday?
