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.”
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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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!
Agreed! Happy Easter, April!
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!
That is my prayer, Jerralea!
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)
$5 would have definitely been more the speed for my family!
Yay for those who have the true golden egg! 🙂
Yes!
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!
Happy Easter, Connie.
The gospel certainly is the “treasure” worth selling everything to gain, isn’t it! Thanks for the reminder.
Yes! Happy Easter, Donna.
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.
I pray the same, Summer!
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
Blessings to you, Debbie. Thank you.
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!
We did! Hope the same for you, Laurie.
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.
I wasn’t kidding when I said you would miss it if you blink!
That was nice story about hunting the golden egg. Thank you for reminder what the true golden egg is.
Thank you, Anna.
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!
Right? Thanks, Rebecca.
The egg hunt sounds like fun, but I agree, the hope and life that Jesus offers is the best “golden egg” of all!
Thanks for joining in, Lesley.
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!
I bet you could use that cash! Congrats and I pray everything goes beautifully!
I love how you equated that golden egg to our salvation!
Thanks, Nicki!
There are things you just can’t put a price on. And you don’t have to hunt Jesus or chase Him down.
Excellent points!
Praise God that He gives us the gift of eternal life freely, lavishly, generously!
Praise him!
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.
Praying the same thing, Carlie.
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
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!
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
Love the reminder that Easter isn’t about the earthly things, but something so much better! #GlobalBlogging
Thank you, Heather.
$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!!
All year long. Wow! Yall were practiced up for Easter!