Thursday, June 3, 2010

Goodness of God

John 5:20-21 - 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.

The Son gives life. The Father raised Jesus from the dead and when we are in Christ we are spiritually raised from death. What Christ received from His Father, we too can receive from Christ.

This is a great word! All throughout the Bible God told the people to trust in Him, believe in Him and He would be their life. Why do we insist on struggling so? Why do we insist on finding solace in the things of this world? Is it because they are tangible? We can touch them, hold them in our hands, taste them, see them?

God cannot be seen physically but His nature can be seen...in nature and in people. It's more difficult to trust in something that is unseen than what we can place in our hands or see with our own eyes. I'm sure that's why this message is difficult. We need to "see" the proof. That's why this God thing can be so difficult for some. 

Yet, it's through a relationship with the Lord we begin to sense His presence. We begin to see Him in all things. We begin to understand Him. We see His hand at work in our lives and the lives of others. We see people of faith healed of disease when there was little hope. We see others go through their suffering heads held high because their hope is not in this world but in a God who has promised them a better life than what we have on earth. That's the One I want to put my trust in.

When we buy something we usually look for clues that it is reliable. There are ways of checking it's reliability. You check Consumer Reports, you ask others, sometimes you are given a trial period. As far as God is concerned, we have a Bible, there are others we can talk with who have received Christ and our own opportunity to "try Him out," tasting and seeing that the Lord is good!

Things of the world and people fail us constantly. It happens every day. And why do we go right back to trusting them hoping things will change? When do we realize we've had enough? Then there's God. If He's not been tried, how do you know what He can do? Try Him out. Test Him! If you've not received Him how do you know? Psalm 52:1 says the goodness of God endures continually. 

The most important thing in life goes beyond the here and now. The thought that just keeps going through my head is no matter what happens to me in this life, God has 
my hand and my eternal life in His hand. Whether I live free from illness and pain or not, I know where my eternal rest is. Through it all I have been made free from spiritual death just because I believe now in the saving grace of Jesus Christ, the One who gives life.

That promise is for anyone who desires to have it. It takes a personal commitment on our part. It is nothing I can give to anyone, nor any pastor, priest or rabbi. It's not something you receive through a spouse's belief. It's totally personal. We have a personal God. When Jesus says "come to me, follow me," that's what we are to do. Then trust and believe.

The Word of God must be abiding within you. That Word is Jesus Christ. He is the Word. The Word is the Bible. The Word of God when sought and taken into your heart brings life, wisdom, joy...both literally and figuratively.

Come to Christ, receive life. Go to the Word. You can read about Him but until you come to Him first you may not fully grasp it's meaning.

John 5:24 - "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life."

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