I was walking through the grocery store this morning (Kroegers) and had some worship music playing low in the "pouch" of my hoodie. I had forgotten my ear buds, but it was early in the morning with very few people in the store yet, so I figured I could play it low without bothering anyone. My attention was divided between the worship music and actively "hunting" for the items on my list. Then, as I rounded the corner to head up the next aisle, an Easter display caught me by surprise (I don't even like using that word anymore--Easter). We are roughly six weeks away from what I much prefer to call Resurrection Sunday, but the bunnies and eggs are already out in full force. My soul was so grieved. Here we are, in the midst of the fulfillment of end times prophecies and on the verge of the rapture at any moment, while the lukewarm "Christian" culture and others in the world focus on the Easter bunny and eggs. I would expect that most folks on this site understand this stuff is tied all the way back to the Assyrian and Babylonian goddess of fertility and sex, Ishtar. However, regardless of whether people realize it or not, millions are deceived and asleep, celebrating Easter while they hold to some ridiculous form of godliness, but deny His resurrection power. How that must delight Satan. My emotions were a mix between deep grief over the eternal implications of such deception and righteous anger over how the precious blood and sacrifice of our Savior has been been reduced for many to an Easter Egg hunt and Sunday lunch at the local buffet. God forgive us. No one will be hunting for Easter Eggs when His trumpet blows and the seals follow. In wrath Lord God, remember mercy. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Ro 1 Yes, rabbits and eggs are fertility symbols and they distract from the message of Christ's resurrection from the dead. I don't personally object to them. Maybe I should, although they don't really mean a whole lot to me. But I was raised to understand the meaning of the resurrection. I think it's sad for those who are given bunnies, eggs, and candies as a substitute for true spiritual understanding of what this time is really about. It is the hope of eternal life, not the seasonal changes from winter's cold to the greenery of spring. Like Christmas, which is something that is not even Biblical in that we are not even told when Christ was born, Easter has been hijacked by paganism. Pollute and dilute until it has no meaning. EDIT: I should clarify my comment. I celebrate Christmas and Easter but both with only Christ as the focus. No santa claus, no bunny (though I love rabbits). I do decorate for Christmas but orbs and lights are to represent the Light of Christ. My comments we meant to highlight what the world does with these holidays and how deceived they are. I do not condemn nor judge brothers and sisters who celebrate these holidays. I have always liked that imagery Fire can be misused, guns can be misused, sex can be misused, etc, etc. My point being is that Satan has take the truth of God's Word, plan and purpose for Mankind and twisted much of it because that is his nature. To lie, cheat, steal and kill. For me, Easter was my favorite holiday when I was young because I not only loved to hunt for Easter eggs and the prize for finding the ones with numbers on them but also hearing the resurrection story over and over again about how Jesus loved me so much he died for me but them came back to life so He could give me Eternal Life. Birth/rebirth/life/abundant life are all part of the Resurrection story of Easter. I have no problem with the symbolism of the fertility of rabbits or the life found in an egg representing life and new birth. Satan can try to twist that truth but it will not work on me because I know he is a liar. Keep looking up :flyup:
