Christ has conquered sin and the grave, secured redemption for the lost and declared a victory that will never be undone.
Easter is not merely a moment to commemorate; it is a truth that reshapes how we live on an everyday basis.
The risen Lord did not leave His followers with a memory to admire, but with a mission to obey.
I recently read about Dr Clarence Edward Macartney, a great preacher and wanted to highlight his motto here.
In an age marked by shifting convictions and restless searching, the legacy of Dr Macartney continues to speak with a clarity that refuses to fade.
Known across the early 20th century American church as a preacher of conviction, courage and uncompromising biblical truth, Dr Macartney stood as a steady lighthouse in a time when many pulpits were drifting toward cultural comfort.
His sermons — measured, bold and deeply rooted in Scripture — carried the weight of a man who believed that the gospel was not merely to be admired but proclaimed.
Dr Macartney’s ministry was defined by a simple but urgent conviction: the world is in need of Christ, and the church must not lose its voice.
His preaching drew thousands, not because he entertained, but because he insisted that the message of Jesus Christ remained the only hope for a weary world.
He reminded believers that Christianity is not a philosophy to be debated but a mission to be lived.
It is this very heartbeat that ties Dr Macartney’s legacy to the final words of Jesus before His ascension — words that still echo across centuries: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations”.
Today, as churches navigate cultural pressure, digital noise and the temptation to soften the message for broader appeal, Dr Macartney’s voice rises again like a trumpet: Hold fast. Preach Christ. Make disciples. His life reminds us that the power of the gospel has never depended on popularity, but on faithfulness.
In Australia, where church attendance has steadily declined and religious belief is no longer assumed, Dr Macartney’s legacy shifts the conversation from theology to practice.
The question is not simply what Christians believe, but how new Christians are seen in society.
Dr Macartney argued that faith grows through clarity, consistency and personal responsibility.
In Australian terms, this means moving beyond institutional maintenance and public holidays, and toward everyday engagement.
Christianity expands, he believed, when ordinary believers are prepared to explain what they believe in plain language, live in ways that reflect those beliefs, and engage respectfully with people who may never have entered a church.
For churches, this requires a pivot from inward-looking programs to outward facing relationships — meeting people where they are demonstrating relevance through action as much as words.
In a culture wary of authority and allergic to slogans, credibility is built slowly, through trust and visibility rather than assumption or tradition.
As Easter recedes from headlines and shop displays until next year, Dr Macartney’s central insight remains timely; if people are to know the Lord, it will be through intentional words, visible lives and personal invitation.
Today, we must ask ourselves, are we doing that?
Pastor Samuel Jacob
Lifesource Church, Echuca
15°C