Today   the film Letters to God opens at Spartan 16 here in Spartanburg. It is a story of how a little boy, his family and friends handle a case of terminal cancer through their commitment to Christ. I had an opportunity to see the film and I highly recommend it.  It deals effectively with how a walk with God can impact those who are dealing with cancer and those that surround them. It gives a very clear presentation of the gospel and it serves as an opportunity to start conversations about the importance of a relationship with Christ.

Most people have either experienced cancer or had someone close to them experience cancer.  This film is extremely applicable to the times in which we live. I would encourage you to see the movie and to encourage others to see it as well during this opening weekend.

This provides an opportunity for Christians to make a statement with our entertainment dollars. That does not happen very often. Not only will you be able to see a good film that will be a great asset in your witnessing conversations, you will also be able to send a message to the motion picture world about the type of entertainment we would like to see.  We cannot complain about what is out there if we are not willing to personally support that which puts Christianity in proper perspective.  This film serves as an opportunity on a number of levels. You will find the film to be powerful, challenging, and encouraging. I certainly hope that you will take advantage of this opportunity. You can find more information at the website www.letterstogodthemovie.com.

On the Saturday before Easter, I had to go to a number of different places.  I was wearing a shirt that I had gotten as a door prize at a golf tournament.  It was a shirt that had on the sleeve a logo for Wofford basketball.  Everyone in this area was excited about Wofford being in the NCAA basketball tournament.  Everywhere I went, someone mentioned my shirt. People shared with me about how they had watched the game and about how they had followed Wofford. They asked me if I was a Wofford graduate or if I had gone to Jacksonville for the tournament game.  They assumed that I was a dedicated Wofford fan.  Don’t get me wrong.  I was certainly supportive of Wofford’s team and they had a great year, but I am not a Wofford graduate, and while I follow their athletic program, I wouldn’t be considered a rabid fan. The people I encountered on Saturday assumed that because I wore the label, I was completely committed to the Wofford basketball program.

Easter Sunday is the highest day of church attendance for the entire year.  People come to church on that day that never come at any other time.  I think it is safe to say that many of us come wearing a label trying to look religious or spiritual, and we hope people will assume we are right with God.

As followers of Christ, we must be more than just a fan.  It has to be a part of our life.  Sunday we had a tremendous celebration of Easter.  But in order for that celebration to be complete, we must do something with it.  People have to see that we love the Lord on other days besides Sunday.  They need to hear it in our conversation; they need to see it in our actions; and they need to discover it as they see our priorities.

Wearing a label, wearing a shirt, is not nearly enough.  We serve a risen Savior, and in the aftermath of Easter, we need to let the world know in every way that Christ is the answer.

Each and every Sunday we celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Easter season is a time when we give special emphasis to this event that is above all others. The world in which we live treats this as a religious holiday. More and more we see it as a separate observance that has little connection to other parts of our lives.  This is the result of compartmentalization. Rather than letting our relationship with Christ impact our entire lives, we tend to keep it in a religious box.

For those of us who are followers of Christ, the resurrection means that we can have absolute certainty about our future.  That knowledge impacts every relationship, every expenditure, every vocational decision, and every personal decision.  When you have a personal relationship with the living Christ, and therefore you know where you are going to spend eternity, it gives you a new perspective about every decision that you make.

No doubt this weekend you will be around people who, while they may be religious, do not have a relationship with Jesus.  What a great time it is to share what God has done in your life. It is a time to make the resurrection more than a religious observance.  It is a time to be a part of making it a reality in the lives of others.  Death is dead. We serve a risen Savior. I am looking forward to the celebration on Sunday.