So many years ago, in eternity past, before the earth existed, before even time itself existed, there existed a supernatural being. This being is God. He created the heavens, the earth and everything else. He created the first man Adam intending that they would commune with one another for eternity.
But Satan struck. Adam ate the fruit which God commanded him not to eat and mortality set in. Man could no longer live in fellowship with God and his days were now numbered. Satan thought he had won, he thought he had successfully truncated God's plan.
And years passed until the time of Abraham from whom God brought out a people chosen and set aside by Him to work in His ways. To these people He gave the Law to serve as a guide to pleasing Him, that all of mankind may not continue to wallow in sin and darkness. That wasn’t the end though, God had so much more than man could ever imagine. Out of His endless love for man, He came down Himself in the person of His Son, that we can be truly saved. “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 KJV.
Surprisingly He didn’t come as a king or a strong warrior or even as a priest. He came as a baby born into a very humble home. His father, a carpenter and his mother a virgin who was almost put away due to the pregnancy. He wasn’t even born in a house for His parents were forced to flee from a wicked king who sought to put the baby to death. He was born and placed in a manger, among animals.
When He grew up, in order to save us, He stayed in the wilderness and fasted for 40 days and 40 nights. And Satan came again, man's age long enemy, thinking that he could weave his web of lies and deceit and put a stop to the plans. He was gravely mistaken! Jesus Christ prevailed over him after which He fully set out to carry out His purpose.
Jesus Christ healed the sick, raised the dead, fed the hungry spiritually and physically, cast out demons, taught the ignorant and worked wonders. Having done all this great things how was He repaid? He was arrested, beaten, mocked and crucified. Surprisingly, this was all part of the plan. Because His love for us is so strong, He volunteered to be the sacrificial lamb so that the whole world could be brought out of the darkness which Adam’s sin plunged us into. He gave Himself up without any fight, to be put to death. And put to death He was. He died on the cross and was buried in a tomb, sealed up with a huge stone. (Matthew 27:31-60; Mark 15:20-46; Luke 23:26-53; John 19:17-42).
At the point of His death, Satan probably laughed, thinking he had won not knowing that he had just suffered a crushing defeat that will last for eternity. For on the third day, at the appointed time, there was nothing that could keep Jesus Christ in the grave. He arose from the dead and came out of the tomb. And His purpose was fulfilled. Luke 16:5-6 says, “And entering into the sepulcher, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth which was crucified: He is risen; He is not here: behold the place where they laid Him” (Emphasis added. KJV).
By the shedding of His blood on the cross, all our sins were washed away. By His death, we die to sin and by His resurrection we rise cleansed, completely purified, new creatures in Him.
Further, His resurrection was a confirmation of His promise to us. John 3:16b says “whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (KJV). As Christ resurrected, so would everyone who believes in Him resurrect. For whoever believes in Him, death is not the end and as such, it shouldn’t be feared. Death simply ushers us into eternal life. Death would simply be to fulfil the requirement for the flesh for our earthly bodies are made of dust and unto dust must they return. Death will simply be a farewell to a vessel that has outlived its usefulness and must be let go of.
All it takes is to believe in Jesus.
1 Peter 2:9 KJV says “For ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
If you want to stop living in sin. If you want to come out of darkness. If you want to live, open up your heart to Jesus Christ this moment. Simply say this simple prayer, “Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I know that You gave Your life to save me. I believe in You and I accept You as my Lord. Come into my heart and my life from this moment. Amen.”
Henceforth, you are born again. You are a child of God. Christ said in John 11 that He is the resurrection and the life, whoever believes in Him, though he were dead, yet shall he live and whosoever lives and believes in Him shall never die. Though you were dead in sin, the moment you believe in Jesus, you are brought to life. And though you may eventually die if Christ tarries, it will only be your body that will die. Everlasting life is yours. You will live.
No comments:
Post a Comment