Among other things, the Easter message is an assurance that God offers second chances. This was the statement given by Tagbilaran Mayor Dan Lim as the Christian world celebrates Resurrection Sunday better known as Easter. “When Jesus rose from the dead, He made sure that people get the message that there is hope in Him regardless of how bad they have been,” the mayor remarked. He noted that the evil pervading in the world did not prevent Jesus from giving people the opportunity to be saved. In fact, he pointed out that even the thief on the cross was presented the opportunity to join Jesus in heaven in a seemingly impossible situation. “Even the thief himself never expected that something good can still come out of his situation considering that he was sentenced to death on the cross,” the mayor added.

Lim says this should be enough inspiration for Filipinos who are starting to give up hope in these difficult times. The mayor acknowledged that giving up is a tempting thought when the future seems bleak. Lim is no stranger to adversities, having lost six straight elections before finally breaking into the win column in 2004. Since then, he has worked himself up into becoming virtually unbeatable in Tagbilaran politics. In fact, if there had been no constitutional prohibitions, many believe Lim would remain mayor for a very long time. “Easter is primarily about hope for a lost world, the assurance that Jesus Christ has conquered death itself,” Lim added. The mayor, however, pointed out that Jesus also offers second chances to people who stumbled early in life. “Just as He did not give up on the thief on the cross whom the world had condemned, He will not give up on us regardless of our present difficulties,” Lim added.

According to the mayor, the only thing that keeps many people from rising out of their troubles is their own feeling of hopelessness. “There are no hopeless situations, only people who have grown hopeless about their situations,” he added. Lim said many people give up at the first sight of adversity and waste the rest of their lives feeling sorry for themselves. The mayor stressed that there will be no trouble-free life so people who do not lose hope are the ones who will be successful in life. He said God has generously offered new opportunities for people who made bad decisions earlier in life but people have to decide to accept those new opportunities that He offers. “I think it is a take-it-or-leave it situation. It is not something that God imposes on us,” the mayor added. Lim said he hopes that the message of Easter will not be lost because it is makes all the difference in people's lives. “If you reject Easter, you reject the promise of a better afterlife,” the mayor warned.