Anyone with access to cable television has probably seen at least one. If not, you’ve certainly heard the jokes surrounding them. I’m talking about the ever-present infomercial. The items being sold are seriously reduced in price and, of course, here’s the clincher: “but wait, there’s more!” Ridiculously cheap and now two for the price of one? Amazing! But wait, that’s not all! There is also the option (not promoted on TV of course) to cruise the aisles of certain brick and mortar stores for those same “As seen on TV” items. With some savvy shopping you can avoid the shipping charges and complicated returns.
Returns? As incredible as these offers seem, things aren’t always consistent with the shtick on the tube. Perhaps you’ve had better luck, but the only things I’ve bought that lived up to the advertising spiel were the tortilla shell baking bowls. It’s too bad we can’t always trust what we hear. Could it be that the hype surrounding these fantastic offers has created an atmosphere of skepticism? No wonder we all say the ending tag line and laugh.
This year, April 20 is when we celebrate Easter and remember God’s provision of salvation, “a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:24) The Bible tells us that the result of sin is death and our redemption through Christ is included in what we refer to as salvation. Amazingly this fantastic gift is free—to us, but not to God. God gave his only Son to pay the terrible cost and salvation comes with promises that seem just too good to be true. Romans 5:8 tells us that because of God’s love for sinners, Christ died on the cross, and because of Jesus’ sacrificial death, verse 9 contains the words “much more.” More than free salvation? Could this possibly be a divine “but wait, there’s more”?
Romans 5:9-10 makes it clear that those who place their faith in the death of Jesus have been saved from the wrath of God. They are now justified before God and reconciled to Him. Romans 4:25 also explains: “He was delivered up because of our transgressions” (Easter and the cross was because of our sins) and was raised because of our justification (God accepted Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf).” Because of His resurrection and ascension, Jesus “is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercessions for them.” (Hebrews 7:25) And that’s still not all.
By accepting salvation through faith in Jesus, there is the promise that “if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature….” (2 Corinthians 5:17) As part of God’s family, believers have also been given the gift of restored fellowship with God and other believers through confession of sins. (I John 1:6-9). In short, we are made new in Christ—redeemed, reconciled, in a new relationship with God, and able to have restored fellowship with other believers all because of what Christ did on the cross.
Imagine all that Easter really means. “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God….” (I Peter 3:18) The hype surrounding the “other” Easter with all the bunnies and baskets is just that, hype. This year, get beyond colored eggs and chocolate. This Easter, consider the blessings and real meaning of what God offers because of the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus. But wait, there’s more, much more than you can ever imagine.