Jesus Died For Me. My Truth.

We are on the eve of the most important of Christian holidays.  I make no apology to my non-Christian readers.  This is what I believe; it is my truth.  Your truth may be quite different.

I am materialistic.  The pleasures of the world appeal to me, from ice cream to jewelry to whatever.  It would be silly and dishonest to deny it.  Since I went back to church--meaning the building with a congregation--I have not lost those desires.  Instead I have learned to appreciate the talent that designed my butterfly necklace and the artist who painted my nails, the cows who gave milk to make my ice cream and the genius who put peanut butter with chocolate.  I am also far more grateful to the Savior who died for me.

Jesus was divine, the Son of God.  He was mortal, the son of a human.  His crucifixion was actual, and symbolic as well.  Those who were executed on a tree (or cross) were cursed.  God abhors sin, and cannot look at it.  Those who died in this manner were separated from God.  Yet Jesus took all the sins of the world on His shoulders, and until his death and subsequent Resurrection, was separated from God.  Jesus called out to His Father ("Why have you forsaken me?")  not because of the fear of pain, but because He could not bear the Father's turning away from Him.

Can you imagine what it was like? To be sweating blood?  To know you are going to suffer?  To know that you have only to ask, and the pain will be taken away?  To know that you will go through with it anyway, all for the saving of mortals.

Jesus suffered, was humiliated--stripped and beaten, made to carry the weight of  His own cross--and then to have the guards gamble for His garments.  He endured betrayal, death and a trip to Hell--willingly.  He asked nothing from us, except that we believe and accept the gift we were given.

I feel unworthy.  My thoughts and my actions are not pure.  Sometimes I think of the Ten Commandments as the ten suggestions.  It is hard to be human.

As I accept communion each Sunday, I am accepting a representation of the body and blood of Christ, given for me and for all, for the remission of sin.  Not just forgiveness, but wiping the slate clean.  This is what I believe.  It is my truth.  What church doctrine says, or what you choose as truth, may be different.  Until He comes again, we won't know the facts, only our own truth.  We will, as Christians, celebrate His Resurrection on Easter Sunday.   I am humbled at His sacrifice.

I Believe.  It is my Truth.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth.  I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.  He descended into Hell. On the third day He rose from the dead.  He ascended into Heaven.  He sits at the right hand of God the Father with whom He will judge the quick and the dead.  I believe in the Holy Spirit, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified.  I believe in the Holy Christian Church, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and in life everlasting.