The culminating event

If I could choose one day of the year for its significance, Easter would be that day; for it is the celebration of the culminating event in the history of man.  Since the day man first fell from grace and received the promise of a way out of his degradation, his long history plodding through the muck and mire he made of his life and the rest of creation was spent waiting.  Not that it was all bad; there are blessings as well, too many of them to count in fact, but man is often too arrogant or greedy to see them and so he hastily shoves them aside and snatches at the shadows he thinks will make him happy.  In time he has forgotten what he needs and waits for he knows not what.  Yet, a remnant remained of those who still grasped the truth of their reality.  The glimmer of hope shone before them as a beacon star guiding a ship through the dark of night.  When the fullness of time was ripe the waiting was over and the promised redemption grew to fruition in the Son sent to live our lives for us.  Though his record was untarnished he suffered our cruel judgment and died a horrible death.  Many might think 'So what?  Everybody dies.'  The story does not end there.  His death was not the completion of the promise.  If Christ had not been raised from the dead, it would all have been for nothing.  Though the authorities tried to cover it up, the tomb was empty.  He is not here.  He is risen!