Put All Your Eggs In One Basket!

Easter is past.  But in reality, Easter continues.  

Not only in terms of the liturgical season, Eastertide -- but in terms of the biblical mandate -- for us to continue -- to run toward the Savior.  

For me primary proof I'm running toward the Savior is when it's evident -- I've 'put all my eggs in one basket' -- God's Basket' -- 'selling out' to God and God alone.   

It’s important to recall how the Easter story progresses.   Initially, the women coming to the tomb are slow and methodical.  But as the Easter story continues, the women are rapid and unguarded.   

We know this, in part, by the pace they take.  Why initially, at the outset of the Easter story, the women walk toward the tomb (Matthew 28:1).  But as the Easter story progresses – and resurrection becomes reality -- the women run from the tomb (Matthew 28:8).  

And “…so the women hurried away from the tomb -- afraid but filled with joy -- and ran to tell [Jesus’] disciples…”  (Matthew 28:8).  But there’s more:  upon hearing the prospect of resurrection from the women -- Luke 24:12 tells us – “…Peter…got up and ran to the tomb…”  (Luke 24:12) – as well. 

We need to run from the tomb as well -- demonstrating a similar abandon for God.   For it’s not enough to just 'do Easter' and 'consider resurrection' -- we must relinquish all to resurrection -- believing there's only one prospect for hope and joy:  abandoning all to the risen Christ.
  
Abandon all to the risen Christ, put all your eggs in one basket, God's basket.  Asking in the words of Frederick Buechner ‘a terrible question’:  “…Is the truth beyond all truths -- beyond the stars -- just this -- that to live without [Christ] is the real death, that to die with [Christ] the only life?” ― Frederick Buechner, The Magnificent Defeat.      

To die with Christ is the only life, for only by dying with Christ, giving all to Christ – do we have any hope of rising with Christ – of knowing an elevated, victorious life.   But we can be certain: our surrender, our ‘sell-out,’ is not in vain.  For as 1 Timothy 2:11+12 notes: “Here is a trustworthy saying:  ‘If we die with him, we will also live with him.  If we endure, we will also reign with him…”  (1 Timothy 2:11+12).

Rick Warren is one of the most prominent pastors in the U.S., best known for his book, The Purpose Drive Life.   Tragically through -- a while back – life appeared to lose purpose – as Rick’s 27 year-old son Matthew ‘took his life,’ after years of battling depression. As you can imagine – it was a wrenching, devastating loss – that would cause most to ‘back away’ from God.  But rather Rick and his wife Kay endured,  'selling out' even more – to God.   

And persons asked -- why:  how could you ‘sell out’ even more to God – given such devastating loss?
  
And Rick’s answer:  Easter.   
   

You see, Rick went on to say:  “…the death…burial -- and… resurrection of Jesus happened over three days. Friday was the day of suffering and pain and agony. Saturday was the day of doubt and confusion and misery. [But Sunday, Easter] …was the day of hope and joy and victory.  [But that’s life.  You see] – Rick went on to explain – “…[you’ll face those] three days over and over...in [the course of a] lifetime. And when you do, you'll find yourself asking…three...questions…What do I do [on] days of [suffering and] pain?...How do I get through…days of doubt and confusion?...How do I get to days of joy and victory?'  [And there’s only one answer – it’s Easter; there’s only one answer:  it’s] Easter.”  - Lee Strobel, The Case for Hope (Zondervan, 2015), pp. 56-57

There is only one answer -- Easter!  For in any season of life, there’s only one resource to handle life – the resurrection power of God – trumping anything – raising-up anything – even death itself.  

For at Easter a ‘dead man walks’ – through your worries – your concerns – your needs – your ‘game over’ realities and makes ‘a wild shot,’ sending history into overtime – saving everything.  

If we let Him.   

Will you let him?  Will you ‘sell-out’ to Jesus – ‘putting all your eggs in one basket’ – His basket?   

Easter calls us to 'sell-out' -- "putting all our eggs in one basket' – God’s basket.  For a dead man does walk, saying:  do not be afraid.  For I am risen – just as I said I would.   For I do have “…plans to prosper you and not…harm you -- plans to give you hope and a future…”  (Jeremiah 2:11). 

And so 'run from tomb'!  For along with your hardest, harshest reality, is the reality of resurrection, capable of  filling you with joy. 

Be filled with joy!  For yes:  Easter is past.  But in reality, Easter continues.   Calling us beyond the slow and methodical - to -- the rapid and unguarded.  

Be rapid  Be unguarded.  

For  Christ is still risen!  

Christ is risen -- indeed!