| 07/28/09 04:27 PM |
#1623
|
|
Dee Allen
When I hear the news, of the deaths of a classmate and of a popular coach (and father of a classmate), I am left speechless. I usually, have a quick, thoughtless quip about nothing, but when it is time to be personal, I fall very short. My wife, Janet can attest to that.
Nancy, I know you, and Louise Parker’s family, are hurting now. Grief is a terrible thing for anyone to go through. The loss of someone close causes uncontrollable feelings that are worse than the actual pain of death. I empathize with you and sympathize for you.
When most people quote a comforting Bible verse, they usually don’t use Philippians 2:5-11, but to me, it says it all.
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. Philippians 2:5-7.
Before Jesus was a man, he was the Lord of Host; the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; the Most High. Thinking not highly of Himself, he willfully and voluntarily became a human slave with no freedom, no rights, and giving up the exercise of His free will. His life was no longer His. It belonged to His master. Everything He said and every thing He did was for the benefit of His master. He was a slave to His Father in heaven.
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. Philippians 2:8
Jesus came, as a man, for one reason, and one reason only. That He should pay the penalty for all mans sins, death. This death is not just passing from this life to another existence. It is separation from God.
“[E]ven death of the cross.” This has been one of man’s crowning achievements of inhumanity to other men. It was usually days of constant agony until, at last, the condemned died of suffocation. Picture Jesus, having been beaten within a breath of life, flesh ripped from His body with every lash, His feet were nailed to a piece of wood and His wrists were nailed to a cross piece. He was stripped naked and hung for all to see. Then - - in the middle of the day, total darkness falls over the earth.
”And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" Matthew 7:46.
All the sins of every man, woman, and child on the earth, from Adam to the last child born before the end of days, was placed on Jesus, then darkness falls. Jesus must die, with that sin, if man ever hoped to escape being forsaken by his Creator.
“And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.” Matt 27:50
God made the rule. If you disobey any, or the least, of His commandments, the penalty is death. It is a simple rule. There are no exceptions. There are no loop holes. God knew, when He made that rule, that no one, ever, would be able to avoid breaking it. (“. . . for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. . . .” Romans 3:23 and “. . . for the payment for sin is death. . . .” Romans 6:23).
So He left his throne of glory, surrounded by living creatures who praise him without ceasing. The Creator of the universe, from the smallest sub atomic particle to the largest galaxy; the Alpha, the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the One who was, and is, and is to come, the Almighty; He left his place and took on the form of a man and willfully paid the penalty for man’s sin. His only motivation was the love He had for each and every unique human who was, and is to ever live.
God knew that if man were to die, in his sin, he would be dead for all eternity, but, of Himself, and His power, He said - -
“I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.” Rev 1:18
Because He had power over death, He was able to do what no man could do.
“Him [Jesus] God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly. . . .” Acts 10:40.
“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.” Philippians 2:9-11.
That’s not where it ends. Not only did He pay our penalty, but, by his unmerited favor toward us, He offered us the free gift of eternal life.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17.
“For by grace [the unmerited favor of God] you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Eph 2:8-9
If we were saved from our sins by our good works, we could (and most likely would) boast of our accomplishment. Only God could redeem us from our debt. We could not earn our way out. Now that He has made it possible for us to have eternal life, He only ask that we accept the gift, free of charge.
When I hear people say, “Well, Jesus is just another name for Buda, or Allah, or Shiva.” It breaks my heart. Of ALL the worlds religions and faiths, faith in Jesus is THE ONLY ONE where God reaches out to pull man up to his level. ALL OTHERS require man to strive for perfection (which is impossible) and earn the highest level of existence.
Folks, we aren’t getting any younger. L.Z. Bryan and Louise Parker have just graduated. I know that there will be a reunion (better than anything Carol could dream of) soon. Everyone who has accepted the free gift, from a loving God, will be in attendance. I pray that you will be there. There is nothing more to do. Admission is free. Just ask your Father to let you in. He is close.
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” Rev 3:20-21
|
|
