Happy Ending

by Seneca Moraleda-Puguan

My husband and I just recently watched a Korean drama entitled “Twenty-Five, Twenty-One.” It was a beautiful story of love between two young people: a high school girl who was a fencing prodigy and a high school graduate who became a sports newscaster.

They started as friends who were always there for each other, and they fell in love. Their love grew until the busyness of their lives as professionals sucked the love out of their relationship.

When she turned twenty-one and he turned twenty-five, they decided to call it quits and bid each other goodbye. Their love for each other was so real and pure but they ended up not fighting for it.

Unlike many of the romantic dramas I’ve watched before, this story didn’t go the way I wanted it to be. I was so heartbroken, I cried and ranted to my husband about how cruel the scriptwriter was.

I couldn’t get over it for a few days because I got really affected by how their love that seemed unbreakable, shattered.

And then, it hit me. Life is filled with sad endings. Life is not all roses and rainbows. It has thorns and thunders, lots of them!

But there is one story that seemed tragic at first but turned out to be the greatest love story that the world has and will ever know. I love telling my children about it day after day and I am not ashamed to talk about this wonderful story to everyone around me.

Unlike the Korean drama we watched, the love wasn’t mutual.

The woman was loved first. She gave herself to other men and pursued other lovers. She rejected him but he pursued her relentlessly. He didn’t give up on her because he knew her worth. He was rejected but he loved her just the same. He fought for her and gave up his life to save her.

It was a rescue mission. It was a story of passion, redemption, sacrifice, of enduring and unselfish love.

You and I are that woman. And the One who loved us first and came to rescue us is no ordinary man.

He is King above all kings. His Name is above all names, the most beautiful name of all. He is Jesus. His story is not fiction. It is real and true. And His legacy lives on.

It has changed countless lives from every nation and every generation. And this season, we remember what He has done thousands of years ago.

He is King, but He came as a humble servant. He suffered injustice but He did not retaliate. He was blameless but He was put to death. He was hung on a cross. A punishment for criminals, one He did not…but we deserve. He took our iniquities upon Himself and gave His life for us that we may be saved.

It was supposed to be you and me on that cross but because of His justice and mercy, He carried our guilt and shame.

Heartbreaking. Tragic. Hopeless. Or so we thought.

After three days, He rose again. Death had no hold on Him. He conquered death. The tomb was empty. He won!Yes, His love conquered all.His death and resurrection brought and continues to bring victory to defeated lives, healing to the sick, wholeness to the broken, joy to the disheartened, peace to anxious hearts, hope to the hopeless, love to the unloved.

Simply put, according to a pastor I look up to: “Jesus lived the life we should have lived and died the death we should have died, in our place. Three days later He rose from the dead, proving He was the Son of God and offering salvation to everyone who will repent and believe the Gospel.”

I used to live an aimless life. I used to wake up each day not knowing what the purpose of my life is. But when I heard His Name and believed what He has done for me, my life had meaning. I found indescribable joy and unfathomable peace that transcends understanding. Now, every waking moment brings songs of hope.

Yes, in this broken world, there will be tragic endings. In this world, troubles abound. Pain is inevitable. But the story doesn’t end there. The picture isn’t complete yet. He will make all things new. He will restore what has been broken. He will make right every wrong thing that has been done. He has the final say. In Him, there is no sad finale. In Him is joy everlasting, love eternal.

May this Easter season be a time, not just of recreation but of reflection. May we have a revelation of how deep, how wide, how long and how great is His love for us. In Christ, we will find our happy ending!

Happy Easter everyone!