There is something wrong with us. We have lost our way.
We have drifted into the dismal abyss of confusion, doubt and fear. We have lost our trust in the things we used to hold dear. We have squandered our time and energies on the worthless idols of the things of this world forgetting that they will perish on the ash heap of self indulgence.
And it didn't take much to see fear gnawing at the very fiber of ones existence. For we abhor even dwelling on this noun and prefer to wallow in the blindness and absolute hopelessness of our frail, helpless conditions. As the years pass by so quickly we feel the draw and see the result of the entrophy that embraces this feeble existence called life. Muscles ache. Bones snap out of place. Paces slow. Wrinkles grow and become more pronounced. Eyesight dims. Hearing fades. And the reality breaks through that wall of denial suddenly as this beast lunges in and pounces on it's prey.
Death.
Why do we just live for what seems a blip on the screen of time and then are no more? Is there meaning to why we are here or are we just meaningless beasts from the primordial slime from which evolution says we were spawned.
Do our lives matter?
The God of the Bible says "YES"! His call to the world goes out to all those who can hear, believe, repent, confess , trust and obey. Is there a rustling within? Do you cringe at the utter uselessness of this present existence? Do you sense a longing for truth that is firmly placed and extricablely bound by logic and reason?
ahhh, reason....in ancient Greek philosophy and early Christian theology, the divine reason implicit in the cosmos, ordering it and giving it form and meaning. As the Gospel explained in the language of that day, The word (logos-reason) became flesh. And dwelt among us.
That one who brought everything into existence. Who literally Spoke and it came to be and it was good. That Word who was in the beginning with God and was God. The Word through which all things were made and without which nothing was made that has been made. That Word, that eternally existing reason took upon Himself human flesh, blood and bones. For it was absolutely necessary. For you see though God created all things good, mankind failed to believe God, and rather believe a lie, that they would be like god. Thus in their disobedience to trust Him and obey Him, death was initiated, as God subjected all things to futility, vanity, and utter uselessness.
The entire creation fell into a state of separation from the God who brought them into existence. And sin coursed through every fiber of the created order.
Yet in Gen 3:15 a promise was made of one who would remedy the situation, when the fullness of time would come.
In the years before this one was to be born, God through the prophet Isaiah spoke of a child born, a Son given called wonderful, counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting father, prince of peace. One who would make peace between God and all the human race. Who would be pierced for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. One who would be cut off from the land of the living and yet would see his seed having gave his life a ransom for the sins of many.
This Messiah, the anointed Son of the Most high, the One to whom every knee shall bow and every tongue confess. And every tongue swear allegiance, being the only name under heaven by which anyone can find meaning, hope and salvation to eternal life. A way out of that pit where hopelessness, pain and foolishness of this present evil age rage and devour.
That One has come and He Only fulfills the promise God made to the world. In this is love the Scripture says, not that we loved God. For we are conceived as natural born enemies of the God of the Bible, that proclaims all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. So say the Apostles of the Way, the Truth and the Life.
What is truth?
Now immortal words etched into the annals of time and space itself. Uttered by the hard hearted and cynical governor of the province of Judaea. Who questioned Jesus the Christ and responded after Jesus proclaimed "everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."
The truth is Jesus is who He said He was, God's One and Only Son. And he proved it by rising from the dead. And being seen by all the apostles who claimed his name as the only way. And by more than 500 who Paul an apostle said, " go ask them, they will acknowledge that they were indeed witnesses that Jesus the Christ rose from the dead."
This one who existed before Abraham was, and claimed before Abraham was "I Am." And those Jews listening to Him picked up stones to throw at Him. Why? They knew exactly what He was saying. That He is indeed God in the flesh.
And He proved it. For while in prison John the Baptist who heard about the works of Jesus sent two of his disciples to ask Him if indeed He was the coming one or should they look for another. Jesus answered and said to them, go and tell John the things which you hear and see: the Blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the Gospel preached to them. and blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.
He indeed is the One who came down from heaven, born of a virgin, a young girl named Mary, upon which the Holy Spirit lighted upon, and the power of the Most High overshadowed her. Thus was born, of flesh and blood and bones, the God/man, Jesus Christ. When the fullness of time had come, the Word who was in the beginning with God and was God, humbled Himself and became obedient in all He was sent to do.
He is the only mediator between God and all the human race. He is a Prophet, Priest, King of King and Lord of Lords. A great high priest who was tempted in every way as we are. Yet, without sin. The One in whom God is well pleased and says to us all, "Hear Him."
"For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him." (John 5:20-23)
For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:3-4)
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil 2:5-11)
it is appointed once for all people to die, and after that to face judgment, (Heb 9:27)
When you stand at the judgement seat of God, will it be in your own good works, which are as filthy rags, tainted, cursed and unworthy to be accepted before a Perfect, Holy, God. For remember, to inhabit the kingdom of God, the New Heavens and New Earth, Jesus Himself said,"You must be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect." Only One Human being accomplished this. Jesus the very Son of God.
Or when you stand before that judgement seat, will it be by grace through faith and not of yourself. Will it in the precious righteousness of God's one and only Son. Who saves us from the wrath of God to come. And gives us the gift of everlasting life. Secured by grace through faith in the only name under heaven by which anyone can be saved.
THERE IS NO OTHER WAY. I don't say this on my own authority. Jesus said this. (John 14:6) He is God's gift to a lost and dying world. I have come to realize God really doesn't owe anyone anything. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. All of us Christians likewise at one time were following the course of this world, the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that works in the sons of disobedience and we were "BY NATURE" children of God's wrath. (Eph. 2:1-5)
Everyone deserves His wrath. But to those who believe, confess, repent, trust and obey, He saves, not because of the righteous things we have done or will ever do, but because of His mercy.
We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says:“In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.(2 Cor 6:1-2)
If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Rom. 10:9)
