In my early childhood days, my mother usually bought me an Easter outfit. It wasn’t a suit. It was a pair of pants and usually a matching pastel colored shirt. She warned me to keep it nice because I would be wearing the same outfit on Decoration Day at our community cemetery. To those of you not from the Deep South, decoration day is a certain Sunday designated by the community to decorate the graves of departed family members. It often included a dinner on the ground, an all-day singing, and a community reunion rolled into one event.
Back to my new outfit. Yes, we aways called a pant garment—”a pair of pants.” Perhaps because there were two legs in a pair of pants. I still wear pants, not merely a pant. More than a few times in my life, I have worn two pairs of pants if it was extremely cold. I know that will drive mathematicians crazy, it sounds like 2 X 2 when it is actually 2 X 1 even though a total of 4 trouser legs are involved. [I know! I have jumped too deep into this rabbit hole—let’s move on.]
The people who call pants, “pant” are probably the same folks who call 33 AD, 33 CE. This is not a random number, 33 AD is the most accepted year of Jesus’ death and resurrection even though there are other opinions.
Secular historians, archaeologists, and others began using CE (Common Era) instead of AD (Anno Domini-In the year of our Lord) some years ago. They also use BCE (Before Common Era) instead of BC (Before Christ). Both types of classifications are based on the Gregorian Calendar, and both rely on the fact that Jesus split time. None of us are surprised that the BCE/CE crowd try to make the claim of being more inclusive. I UNBENDINGLY USE BC AND AD!
Jesus came for whosoever would believe, but He also knew He would be divisive. He indeed divided time and people. The classifications of BC and AD is a reality of earthly eras being decisively divided regardless of what you may call it. The dividing line and the person of Christ who prompted that division does not change even if someone tries to rename it.
Jesus’ words, not mine: “Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three” (Luke 12:51-52 NKJV).
Jesus also said that the world (the carnal worldly system) would hate Him and those who follow Him. “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:18-19).
The division of the world religions is also settled on the death and resurrection of Jesus. All world religions have similarities. There are teachings on humility, being kind, good deeds, giving of alms, etc. that are shared among the many beliefs. However, Christianity is the only religion that has a crucified and resurrected Savior who has the claim of God in flesh. Jesus Christ and His teachings have had such an impact on the world that we divide earthly eras as “before Christ” and “in the year of our Lord.”
My faith is in Jesus Christ as the Son of God who was born of a virgin, lived, preached, healed, and delivered; then was betrayed, tried, crucified, buried, resurrected, and ascended to Heaven. He is my Savior and Lord. I follow Him. I try to walk in His ways and be obedient to His Word and will. My highest expectation is to live with Him in eternal bliss. MY ONLY HOPE IS IN JESUS!
When at last I get to Heaven, I will not have to worry about whether I wear pants or pant; from what I’ve read, there is a robe waiting for me. If there happens to be a crown involved, I am sure to place it at His feet where it belongs.
When He makes all things new, there will be no Decoration Days because all the graves will be empty. Pastel colors will be out of style and white garments will be the latest fashion in Heaven.
In eternity, we will not be concerned about BC and AD, because He is the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. All things will be new. Perhaps past and future will be a moot point as eternity is a “now” that will last forever.
I hope and pray you have believed and committed your life to Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. He has split time and divided humanity into those who believe and those who do not. I pray you believe in Jesus.
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us,
that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV
Have a Blessed Resurrection Sunday! He died so you could be forgiven. He is risen so you can live again.
Yours on the Journey,
Harry L. Whitt
Pathway Journey 