A few thoughts on Ramadan and Easter this Good Friday

 

 

Did you know that we are in Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, right now?

I’m not sure if it always overlaps with Easter, but there is an interesting contrast in comparing Islam’s path of redemption to Christianity. Do versus Done.

Muslims fast for 30 days during this time, from sun up to sun down. It’s a lot harder to do than you realize, sustaining a partial fast. But, they are doing these things to atone for their sins. They make a lifelong trip to Mecca. They give alms. They do their best to make Allah happy. They try as hard as they can to earn their way to paradise.

Christians, however, recognize, we cannot earn our way into eternal salvation. We are flawed sinners, unrighteous and unholy, and there is nothing we can do to change that. We do not rest on our efforts at righteousness to carry us to heaven. We do rest on the finished work of Christ on the cross, who took the penalty for our sins and paid the price for us.

I was reading in Leviticus this morning about the sin offerings and guilt offerings Israel had to offer. And, they showed me, there is a cost to my sin. They pointed to Jesus as the ultimate and complete sacrifice for my sins. Animals couldn’t really incur my guilt, that is something only the blood of the Son of God could handle and accomplish.

Today, Good Friday, seems a perfect day to reflect on the cost of our sin. And, knowing there are a billion Muslims trying to earn their way to heaven, trying to pay the cost of their sin for themselves, an impossible task, we should be compelled to pray, and to go and share the Gospel with them.

God is doing some really cool things in Muslim countries, even though the Gospel is severely restricted in most all of them. People are having dreams and visions, and are accepting Christ even though they may be beaten, thrown in jail, or killed. If you want to read more encouraging stories, I’d encourage you to go to the Voice of the Martyrs site. Vom.org

And, if you really want to help spread the Gospel in a Muslim country, consider giving $10.00 to buy a Bible for a Christian in Iran. I promise the eternal ROI will be an infinite blessing. Vom.org/biblesforiran

Let’s look for ways to share the Gospel as we reflect on how it has changed our lives this Easter.