There is so many things that beg for our time, it is hard to sort out the important from the really important.
In the midst of this 'rat race,' God says, "Trust me, I have a plan."
He offers his word as a light unto our path.
And many of us have done our very best to read His word, and to say daily prayers.
But its not enough.
The weight of the daily stuff, the daily grind, the daily...days is exhausting.
400 years, the heavens were silent, and God's people looked for something that would set them free. Something that would release them from a life filled with meaningless actions.
And then came the ARRIVAL - Jesus himself described in in John, chpt 3.
For God so loved the world -
reality check - my world does not feel like God loves me. It feels more like God hates me.
You once were an object of wrath - which means, in your sin, your were an enemy of God, your sin separated you from God. All of us rebelled, we all walked away from what was designed to be a perfect world. Call it what you will - disobedience, rebellion, sin, mistakes, treason - we screwed up.
But guess what...God did not abandon us. He did not call it quits. He did not sign the divorce papers. He did not execute his right to immediately sentence us to eternal punishment. Instead he provided a second chance.
That he sent his one and only Son -
The second chance was a radical plan, a mind boggling plan. To send his own son to Earth to live the perfect life, on behalf of the whole human race, and thus to
“Jesus, a man who was completely innocent, offered himself as a sacrifice for the good of others, including his enemies, and became the ransom of the world. It was a perfect act.” MOHANDAS K. GANDHI, 1948
But even in this quote we are reminded of the next step. God's plan requires us to "believe."
For who so ever believe in him -
What do you believe in? What do you trust? If you pealed away all the layers of theories and ideas that guide you on a daily basis. I believe that breakfast is important. I believe that hard work is rewarded. I believe that families should care for each other unconditionally. I believe that we are not evolved monkeys but that each of us is designed with a specific purpose. I believe...that Jesus Christ was God, came and died on a cross, and rose again conquering my sin, and making a way for me to return to God.
Should not perish, but have ever lasting life.
You are here because you know something. What you know you can't explain, but you feel it. You felt it your entire life. There is something wrong with your life but you don't know what it is. But it's there like a splinter in your mind. --Morpheus to Neo
I relate to this. There is within a whisper that says, "You were made for more than this." This is why death is so tragic. We all gather and mourn. What are we mourning? The loss of something that should have never been lost. We were created to live forever. And when those we love die, something deep within cries out, this is not right. Which is why this verse is so powerful. Those who believe in God will never die! Death has lost its sting. The curse is broken. His love concerned sin and death.
Thus we are able to end this evening, singing "Joy to the World."
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.
Posted via email from Mark Kraakevik
