From Death Back to Life.

My heart broke yesterday at a stoplight leaving the shopping center near our house.

On the road to our left was a crow that was pecking as at a mouse that was holding on for dear life. The mouse's legs had been broken and the crow was killing this mouse slowly.

My wife looked over and she started gasping at the horrifying scene and started crying. Definitely heightened by the pregnancy hormones.

The rain clouds were also settling in for today's gloomy forecast.

My wife aptly said in a moment of wisdom, "that's just the cycle of life. The food chain happening. The bird was hungry, but the mouse had a family..."

Death can feel like a horrible thing and especially in this context, seeing this helpless mouse die right in front of our eyes was an image that will be hard to forget.

When Jesus died on the cross, his mom was there. Can you imagine the horror of seeing your own child hung up and dying for a crime he didn't commit?

How many of us have suffered in business, and felt like we didn't deserve what was happening? We carry our cross for years only to realize that we can't control the markets, or Covid, or the press decides that our values don't align with society anymore and you get cancelled and it kills your business. The cycle of life? Death? The food chain happening?

What about big corporate giants deciding to come and wipe out small businesses? Or acquire them for pennies on the dollar while the business owner mourns the loss of this "baby" they've built?

But...you know what the good news is?

Jesus' death on that cross did not go in vain. This ultimate sacrifice of the Son of God reconciled the accounts of humanity with God. The check cleared. Your freedom has been purchased.

We all know the story of Easter that's coming up soon...

Jesus conquered the grave and three days later rose again.

We have therefore been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the death through the glory and power of the Father, we too might walk habitually in the newness of life [abandoning our old ways.]

-Romans 6:4

So, today, whether you're reading this as a business person interested in God, or a devout Christian, or you're not exactly sure why you read this, I want to invite you to do the following.

You can experience the new life in your life...even where you feel you've failed. You are forgiven for the times you stole, lied, cheated, or didn't measure up to the standard you deep down know God has for your life.

You don't have to fall head over heals into this walk with Jesus overnight. But if you want to at least start a relationship with a God that loves you deeply say..."Jesus I want to get to know you and I invite you into my life. I am sorry for the way I've been living, I've messed up...big time. I believe you are the Son of God, and died for me, and conquered the grave so that I may experience freedom and eternal life. Help me seek the kingdom of heaven in everything I do. Guide me, direct me, be the Lord of my life. Amen."