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The Golden Egg

April 18, 2019 by Lauren 43 Comments

First things first:  The winner of last week’s giveaway (A copy of Mended:  Restoring the Hearts of Mothers and Daughters by Blythe Daniel and Helen McIntosh) is…Summer Marrero!  Thank you so much to everyone who participated.  And now, on to this week’s post.

 

During my formative years, I lived at the end of a long caliche road in Elm Mott, Texas.  You blink and you miss this little country town driving up Interstate 35 from Austin to Dallas.  My rich friend, Deanna, lived about half way down the road.  Her family owned a bigger plot of land, a golf cart, and a trampoline.  They lived in the only house with more than one story and the road bore their last name.  In my book, Deanna was rich.

 

One Easter Sunday I remember her telling me about the egg hunt they have every year.  Her parents hid plastic eggs all over their property and all the kids and grandkids kept their eyes peeled for the gold one.  All the pretty pastel eggs held candy and fun trinkets.  Those were ok.  But the gold one – it had $50 inside.  The golden egg turned this hunt into a sport.  It was the coveted prize.

 

On Good Friday, we remember that God loved us so much that He made a way for relationship with us – now and for eternity.  Romans 3:23 NIV disputes the myth that we can ever be good enough to earn God’s love and mercy (“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”).  Because we sin, our punishment is death.  And not just the ceasing of life that we all experience here on this earth.  An eternal death that is separation from God – here and forever.  (Romans 6:23 NIV “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[a]Christ Jesus our Lord.”)  Jesus, who never sinned, took the punishment for all of us who have.  “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:8 NIV  He died on a cross, but death could not hold my King.  Jesus rose from the dead, conquering sin and death for us, allowing us to be in relationship with the perfect Creator of the Universe.  It’s too much.  I don’t deserve it.  We can’t earn it.  And in His great love and mercy, we don’t have to try.  Romans 10:9-10 NIV assures us, “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”  

 

This is what we celebrate on Easter Sunday (and EVERY day).

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The true “golden egg” of this holiday is this “gift of God”.  This “eternal life in Christ Jesus” when we make Him Lord over the whole of ourselves.  This freedom – worth immeasurably more than $50 – God offers freely to whoever will believe in it.  In Him.  You don’t have to search for this prize.  Our Heavenly Father holds it out to you with an open hand.  If you have questions about how to reach out and take it, I would love to visit with you virtually or in person.  Email me confidentially at lauren@laurensparks.net.  I can’t wait to talk to you more about my Savior.  And I pray you find rest and refreshment in your “golden egg” this Easter.

 

“For from him and through him and for him are all things.  To him be the glory forever! Amen.”  Romans 11:36 NIV 

 

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Filed Under: Christian, death, Easter, Faith, forgiveness, Jesus, joy, love, prayer, trusting God Tagged With: egg hunt, Elm Mott, eternal life, golden egg, Good Friday, Roman Road

Comments

  1. April says

    April 19, 2019 at 2:40 pm

    My family does a similar egg hunt that tradition still goes on for my grandkids. As a child there was always the loose change or dollar bills inside with the candy. We did have the bigger eggs that had the “bigger” bill but not $50!! but you are so right what we have through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus is sooo much more than any prize egg! He gave us the greatest gift and we should most definitely always take times to meditate on the cross!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      April 20, 2019 at 2:42 am

      Agreed! Happy Easter, April!

      Reply
  2. Jerralea says

    April 19, 2019 at 3:19 pm

    Wow, I would have been thrilled as a kid to find the golden egg. Actually, I’m so old, I don’t even remember egg hunts when I was a kid. 😉

    You’ve explained the gospel in a beautiful way. I hope everyone reading believes in their heart and confesses with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      April 20, 2019 at 2:41 am

      That is my prayer, Jerralea!

      Reply
  3. Christin says

    April 19, 2019 at 7:35 pm

    What wonderful memories form your childhood! We have also put money in some of the Easter eggs for our kids, but $50? Wow, what a prize! I love the spiritual connection to the golden egg, and will definitely implement this at our next egg hunt! (though we may only be able to put in a $5 bill! lol)

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      April 20, 2019 at 2:41 am

      $5 would have definitely been more the speed for my family!

      Reply
  4. Becca | AnchoredAbode.com says

    April 19, 2019 at 11:16 pm

    Yay for those who have the true golden egg! 🙂

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      April 20, 2019 at 2:40 am

      Yes!

      Reply
  5. Connie Rowland says

    April 20, 2019 at 1:33 am

    Thanks, Lauren for sharing the “golden egg” this Easter. I love that you so willingly opened yourself up to visit with someone who wants to know more about Jesus! Cuz that’s what it’s all about! Happy Easter and God bless!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      April 20, 2019 at 2:40 am

      Happy Easter, Connie.

      Reply
  6. Donna Reidland says

    April 20, 2019 at 9:55 pm

    The gospel certainly is the “treasure” worth selling everything to gain, isn’t it! Thanks for the reminder.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      April 20, 2019 at 11:19 pm

      Yes! Happy Easter, Donna.

      Reply
  7. Summer says

    April 21, 2019 at 10:40 pm

    So excited to have won the giveaway! Can’t wait to read the book. Thank you! As I write this comment on Easter Sunday, I am profoundly touched by the significance of the empty grave. What you’ve shared here is the pure gospel and I pray the at least one reader comes.to Christ as a result.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      April 22, 2019 at 2:27 am

      I pray the same, Summer!

      Reply
  8. Debbie Kitterman says

    April 22, 2019 at 7:05 pm

    Lauren, our Easter egg hunts were boring and simple, man oh man, I would have loved to hunt for a golden egg! hahaha – I love your story telling and the reminder that we, who believe, do truly have the golden egg – the gift of God and what Jesus did for us on the Cross. It’s a powerful truth we need to celebrate every day not just Easter weekend. Blessings

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      April 22, 2019 at 11:31 pm

      Blessings to you, Debbie. Thank you.

      Reply
  9. Laurie says

    April 22, 2019 at 7:35 pm

    I love the idea of the golden egg – both in your rich friend’s egg hunt and your analogy to Jesus. I hope your family had a blessed Easter, Lauren!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      April 22, 2019 at 11:32 pm

      We did! Hope the same for you, Laurie.

      Reply
  10. Betsy de Cruz says

    April 23, 2019 at 12:06 am

    Hello there, Lauren! I live in Austin and have made that drive to Dallas at least 40 times in my life, but never noticed Elm Mott!

    And you’re right. Salvation in Jesus is the true golden egg. The prize worth giving everything for.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      April 23, 2019 at 12:47 am

      I wasn’t kidding when I said you would miss it if you blink!

      Reply
  11. Anna Shirley says

    April 24, 2019 at 1:56 am

    That was nice story about hunting the golden egg. Thank you for reminder what the true golden egg is.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      April 24, 2019 at 2:09 am

      Thank you, Anna.

      Reply
  12. Rebecca Hastings says

    April 24, 2019 at 3:45 pm

    I’d be looking for that egg too! LOL With my family I have a feeling it would get too competitive for a peaceful Easter!

    Thanks for reminding us to seek the heart of Easter everyday!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      April 24, 2019 at 5:07 pm

      Right? Thanks, Rebecca.

      Reply
  13. Lesley says

    April 24, 2019 at 5:54 pm

    The egg hunt sounds like fun, but I agree, the hope and life that Jesus offers is the best “golden egg” of all!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      April 24, 2019 at 6:51 pm

      Thanks for joining in, Lesley.

      Reply
  14. Patsy Burnette says

    April 24, 2019 at 6:54 pm

    Beautifully written! The true golden egg is for sure the gift of God. And it’s FREE! I love the analogy! 🙂 We’re having a wedding on Saturday and I need about 300 of those golden eggs you hunted as a child! Thanks for linking up at InstaEncouragements!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      April 24, 2019 at 7:26 pm

      I bet you could use that cash! Congrats and I pray everything goes beautifully!

      Reply
  15. Nicki Schroeder says

    April 24, 2019 at 7:33 pm

    I love how you equated that golden egg to our salvation!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      April 24, 2019 at 10:22 pm

      Thanks, Nicki!

      Reply
  16. Rebecca Jones says

    April 24, 2019 at 7:48 pm

    There are things you just can’t put a price on. And you don’t have to hunt Jesus or chase Him down.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      April 24, 2019 at 10:23 pm

      Excellent points!

      Reply
  17. Linda Stoll says

    April 25, 2019 at 12:32 am

    Praise God that He gives us the gift of eternal life freely, lavishly, generously!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      April 25, 2019 at 2:22 am

      Praise him!

      Reply
  18. Carlie says

    April 25, 2019 at 2:36 pm

    Amen! A relationship with the God of the universe–nothing even comes close in comparison. Praying that we’ll all treasure this ‘golden egg’ made possible through Easter.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      April 25, 2019 at 7:05 pm

      Praying the same thing, Carlie.

      Reply
  19. Leanne | www.crestingthehill.com.au says

    April 26, 2019 at 4:07 am

    The celebration of Easter seems more and more to be drifting from the true meaning behind it. There is a stronger focus on National Days of celebration (ANZAC day in Australia has become a huge tribute to our war veterans) and in the process we seem to have lost the importance of remembering Christ’s sacrifice. It saddens me a little – and it helps to read a post like this that reminds us of the gold of Easter. BTW I had never heard of “caliche” before and had to Google it – so I’ve learnt a new Americanism for the week x

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      April 26, 2019 at 1:09 pm

      I agree. Most holy days have lost their meaning in culture. It’s up to us to continue in the true meaning. And thanks for visiting from so far away!

      Reply
  20. Michelle Kellogg says

    April 26, 2019 at 1:31 pm

    We never put money in our eggs for the kids and they were still very happy just hunting for the eggs. That was the most fun for them. We never had a golden egg though. It’s amazing the different family traditions that exist around this holiday though. We are all different, just the way we were intended to be. #GlobalBlogging

    Reply
  21. Heather Keet says

    April 29, 2019 at 12:35 am

    Love the reminder that Easter isn’t about the earthly things, but something so much better! #GlobalBlogging

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      April 29, 2019 at 2:29 am

      Thank you, Heather.

      Reply
  22. Barb Hegreberg says

    April 15, 2022 at 8:48 am

    $50 wow!

    My cousins & I used to love playing Easter Egg Hunt with plastic eggs, all year long.

    Salvation is the BEST golden egg ever!!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      April 16, 2022 at 8:35 am

      All year long. Wow! Yall were practiced up for Easter!

      Reply

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I love Jesus, my husband and caffeine. The order of these can change depending on how tired I am. When my two daughters, stepson, and 4 grandchildren get to be too much, I practice yoga. God graciously allows me to share our adventures, victories and flub-ups from my laptop. May He be glorified here.
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