|
|
“Will you join in our crusade? Who will be strong and stand with me? Somewhere beyond the barricade is there a world you long to see?” –from Les Miserables (Broadway production)
It has been said that the greatest purpose of our lives is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. There's no way to do either of those things unless we know Him. Can anyone really know God? Is this not a presumptuous notion? And beyond knowing God, and being known by Him, is it possible to be right with Him? To know we are safely in His care both in this world, and the world to come?
The central message of the Bible revolves around the sovereignty of God. A “sovereign” is a King. So the Bible’s message, at its core, is about His kingship over all creation. This King has a plan to address the misery and confusion we see all around us. Perhaps the greatest news of all is that we are not on our own to try to make sense of it all.
"He has not left us to our own devices," writes Jerry Bridges in Trusting God, "or the whims of nature, or the malevolent acts of other people. No! He constantly sustains, provides for and cares for us every moment of every day." Could this be true? Is it possible that amidst a world changing moment by moment, a world in which we are troubled by our past, anxious for our future, and the present won't stay still—could there be a flat-sea calm, an eye in this storm? Namely, a God who cares for us? And just how safe is this God?
"While it is certainly true that God's love for us does not protect us from pain and sorrow," Bridges continues, "it is also true that all occasions of pain and sorrow are under the absolute control of God."
Now, there is a golden caveat hidden in Bridges' words that would be unscrupulous were it not revealed. In the New Testament, Jesus offers a striking allegory of His Father's attention to what we must call family matters. “Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. . . . Therefore,” Jesus concludes, “do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Yes, God's love for His children is profound. He is active in the minutest details of their lives. But are you a member of this spiritual family? Would you like to be?
What follows are five principles which summarize God's wonderful adoption process:
God is actively gathering the members of His family. "I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made" (Isaiah 43:6-7, ESV).
Throughout the ages, and from among all the nations of the Earth, God has, is, and will continue to call out to those who will listen: “See Me for who I Am and follow Me.” But why aren’t we automatically a part of this spiritual family? Aren’t we all God’s children?
Unfortunately, the answer is no. There is a problem.
Sin separates us from God the Father."For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23, ESV).
The sad message written across the pages of both history and the Bible is that man is sinful. We are rebels, preferring the autonomous life in which we run the show. The crown of sovereignty is placed on our own heads because we prefer to live our own way, instead of God’s way. We may kid ourselves by saying, “I am not that bad!” But since God’s standard is perfection, we all “fall short” of the high mark that God calls all men and women to live up to. Living a “good life” is not enough. We must live a perfect life. Impossible?
Sin brings a dire consequence."For the wages of sin is death . . ." (Romans 6:23, ESV).
Yes, it is impossible to live a perfect life, yet that is what God has called us to. And the consequence of living in a state of “self rule” is to be dead to the things of God. We can’t desire what we can’t even see. Yes, it is that bad.
"Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned . . ." (Romans 5:12).
And it even gets worse before it gets better, because not only are we dead and orphans without a spiritual Father and without hope in this world, we are destined to a an eternity apart from God. This is the ultimate outcome of the spiritual death spoken of in the Bible. It is fully realized in hell where those who die in rebellion continue on as eternal orphans.
But all is not hopeless.
God has provided a way out through His son, Jesus Christ."The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners . . ." (1 Timothy 1:15, ESV).
This death sentence was addressed directly by God Himself as He stepped into time and space, was born a man (though never ceasing to be God), and took the penalty for our rebellion by dying a cruel death at the hands of those He created.
What’s more, Christ came to gather the Sons and Daughters the Father has called. "When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, 'Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.'" (John 17:1-2, ESV).
By rising from the tomb three days after His death, He defeated both physical and spiritual death!
"Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades." (Revelation 1:17-18, ESV).
Is that all that’s to it? What must I do?
Family membership in God’s Kingdom belongs to those who repent and trust in Christ alone."Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out" (Acts 3:19, ESV). "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved. . . ." (Acts 16:31, ESV).
The biblical word “repent” literally means to turn 180 degrees and walk in a different direction. It means to choose by God's grace to walk the way God has designed for His children, and to yield the crown we have so longed to wear (the crown of self rule) to the true King.
"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:12-13, ESV).
Is this something you desire?
If so, then turn from your current life of autonomy and self rule and call out to Jesus Christ to cleanse you from your sin. "For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:13, ESV). "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—" (John 1:12, ESV).
For those who take this step, there is a transformation: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come" (2 Cor. 5:17).
If you have called on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to be your Savior and King, our pastor would love to hear from you and share some information to help you grow in your new-found relationship with Christ.
All scripture references are from the English Standard Version of the Bible.
|
|
|
|
|