Christianity is not based on human opinions or philosophical inferences or assumptions. It is built on absolute truth (Matthew 16:18) that can never be debated but accepted. As a former Muslim, who was radically born again, I know firsthand the arguments that have been made against Christianity. Jesus Christ is not a myth, but the Son of God (Luke 22:70) sent in human form to redeem a lost world back to God the Father. Jesus blood that was shed on the cross was the currency of our redemption transaction.  The hope of Easter is a reality in every believer that has opened the door of their hearts and life to Jesus. The hope of Easter gives us an unshakeable evidence of an eternal communion with God.

When I think of Easter, my thoughts always turn to the account in Matthew 28:11-15, “Some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, "Tell them, 'His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.' And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure." So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day."  

The guards at Jesus tomb had to know there was something out of the ordinary about this Man that was killed and buried in the grave they were assigned to protect. They were so close to the supernatural and yet never experienced transformation.  They were so close to their breakthrough, yet failed to acknowledge the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The guards were so close to the hope of eternal communion with God, yet decided to reject the truth. They were so close to their miracle, yet they hardened their hearts to the truth. They were so close to divine wisdom, yet they chose to follow human decrees. They were so close to an eternal exchange, yet chose material exchange.  They chose to carry their burdens with them, instead of leaving them all at the cross. They were so close to the Advocator, yet chose to do things their way. They were so close to the Way, Truth, and Life, yet chose to reject the truth. Can you begin to see how privileged you are as a believer? Amazing grace found you, touched you and you're forever His.

Can you imagine been that close to the Savior and Deliverer and yet not saved or delivered? The guards show us “what not to follow” as believers. What will you chose to do with the Hope of Easter?  Celebrate the living evidence of the hope of Easter. Jesus is Alive and lives in us His bride. That is one perpetual reason for continuous celebration. He is Risen and lives forever more!

His Eye Is on the Sparrow is a spirit lifting and soul inspiring song mostly linked with singer Ethel Waters. The words resonate the assurance of God’s love as a caring covenant Father who takes care of His children. Recent conversations with fellow believers have got my spirit stirred about the “paternal heart of God”.  The conversations have stemmed from the crisis of sequester America is in right now. With $85 billion spending cuts (known as the sequester) in the horizon, soldiers and veterans are not exempted from the sting of sequester. As blood bought believers, may I remind us that our heavenly Father is on the throne and will always be on the throne. His economy is never affected by human crisis.

Matthew 6:26, asks a definitive question, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”  There is a strong lesson in this scripture for us as believers. The sparrow is a small, round, brown-grey bird with short tails and potent beak. It does not sow or reap, yet it lives well and flourishes as evidenced by its existence. Can I put some courage and assurance in your heart as a child of God with a double status? Yes, double status, first you’re a child of God by creation (Gen 1:27) and secondly by adoption through Christ Jesus. From our heavenly Father, we have received the “Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father’” (Rom 8:15).

Regardless of your circumstances or situation, how dire it might be, the good news is that Abba Father will take care of you. He has many streams of ensuring all His children are taken care of in far greater ways than the sparrow. Matthew 10:28-31: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.  And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows”.

There is a lesson behind a Native American story I love to share. It brings home this paternal heart of God in a very practical way. A father took his thirteen year old son on the bravery ceremony that is common to young Native American boys. On the very night that the boy turns thirteen, he will be blind folded and led to a thick lonely and dark forest several miles away from the tribal home. The boy will be informed not to remove the blind fold until several hours after the departure of the adults that brought him to the thick lonely forest in the outskirt of the reservation. This boy was supposed to be left in this dense forest by himself to deal with all the unknowns, the wild animals, serpents and other scary things in the jungle. You can imagine how dark it was on this particular night because there was no moon or stars shining in the sky. The blind fold off, the boy was there all night long, his heart must have been beating rapidly at every noise from broken tree limbs or howling wild animal. Imagine what he must be thinking, probably a wild animal was about to pounce on him or a carnivorous animal was excited to have him for dinner. This boy probably panicked throughout the night but had nowhere to go. He could not run or hide.

After a long dreadful night, finally, it was dawn and the rays of light shone through his eyes. At the glance of light, he was amazed to see a big man holding a huge bow and long arrow in his hands. He strained his eyes and noticed that the big man holding bow and arrow was actually his father. To his surprise, his father had stayed there throughout the night in his defense. He never left his vicinity; he was there without the boy knowing that he was watching over him. He was guarding his son throughout the night and ready to deal with any threats from any wild animal. Now this is a story of an earthly father watching over his son with an unflinching love and care, how much more will our heavenly Abba Father watch over His own relentlessly with unceasing love and care. Did you see yourself in that thirteen years old young boy? And do you see God as your heavenly Father? If His eye is on the little sparrow, you can be sure His eye is on you His beloved son/daughter.