Easter Sunday 2013: A Christian's Simple Reasons For Believing in Jesus

Sunday is Easter, the day that Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is on this day that we acknowledge that a man, born of a woman but God in the flesh, rose from the dead. He died a fully human death, nailed to a cross, only to emerge from the tomb he was buried in. In that moment, death was swallowed up in victory.

Does it make sense for the human ear to hear this story and not doubt? Absolutely. Writing this down, it seems illogical to my simple mind. How could a man who was God come to earth only to die, suffer, and shed his blood for wrongs he did not commit? Why would he do this? I've believed since I was a child but I still do not fully understand. But I choose to believe. Not accepting is harder.

It is more difficult to go through this life and not believe. I choose to believe because I know in my own strength I am not good enough to save myself. For all the things I have done wrong in my life, I know my punishment deserves to be the death that Christ suffered in my place. There is not enough good deeds I can do to ever undo all the things I have done wrong. The scale would never balance. I will always be found wanting, lacking, anemic, and deficient.

Faith is so simple, but at the same time, the most complicated prospect one can allow. Why believe in something you can't see? To begin, the gift of forgiveness that Christ offers is so simple, and it comes without strings. I don't have to do anything but admit I'm a sinner, unworthy of anything but death. But he offered me and those who believe a road to redemption. He shed his perfect, spotless blood for me. All I have to do is receive the gift and I'm set free.

Does this mean I'm perfect, that I'll never sin again? Of course not. It doesn't give anyone a way out. Every day I pray for forgiveness for the sins I've committed. Trust me, they're too many to count. But I believe he loves me anyway. He died for me, bled for me. He held the weight of all the sins of the world on his shoulders. Why? So that there would be a way for all to be forgiven.

In this world that's full of pain, sometimes it's hard to see God's plan. There are so many things no one can understand. You dream, you hope, only to fall flat on your face more than you rise up. Life is full of pain because man chose to go against God in the Garden of Eden. Jesus Christ is the only perfect sacrifice. I believe because I don't know where else to turn, because I know he's my only hope. If left to my own devices I will only mess everything up.