I Have Come Down to Bring Them Up

 Exodus 3:7-8 - And the LORD said: “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey...”

There are many people in the Bible who are types of Christ. Moses was one of them. Egypt is considered a type of the world. Israel was held captive in Egypt.  If you recall Moses led the people of Israel out of Egyptian captivity. God wanted them in a land He would provide for them, a better place. 

Their captivity at that time was as slaves. But did you know that we are slaves also in our world? God desires for us to be out of this world and secure in a better place He has for us. And this is why He sent Jesus! He came down from heaven. He will deliver us up to heaven one day.

He came down to deliver US out of the snares of this world and bring us into a special place He has for us. What snares? All the things that keep us from looking to Him, things that DISTRACT. Anything that is put in the forefront of our lives that take God out of our lives is a snare. What most consumes us? Some things we are meant to be busy doing but others are not. We’re all guilty. When I was working I was a workaholic. Some people, if they have the means, travel frequently. Others shop! For some it’s their children or hobbies or activities, for some it’s self! There are so many things that consume our time. 

For a true believer in Jesus Christ, the Bible tells us in various ways that this earth is not our home, but that heaven is (Philippians 3:20). We are strangers here on earth (1Chronicles 29:15). We are to have a loose grip on the things of this world (Matthew 6:19-20). Don’t let those things consume. But...we are to focus on sharing the truth of Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, the one who gives us eternal life...no one else can do that. We are told that even our idle words (which are many) will be judged. 

When we die our body is gone, but our spirit lives on. And that spirit has one of two permanent resting places...heaven or hell. And they are real. It’s why He came....that we may have eternal life in Him, in heaven...that resting place that God has chosen for us. Why would Jesus come to save us if we all were going to go to heaven?

Jesus came and died that we could have that more abundant life. We are told to think on the things above not the things here on earth. We are told to store up riches in heaven that will not be consumed as opposed to things of earth which will spoil, rust, wither away.

I heard a talk recently and this was a very good statement: to realize that self-preservation of my own life will cost me in being fearful, in being in compliance with what they (government) want me to do; but if I’m willing to lose my life, I can stand in the face of this no matter what they say. This is what the truth of the Bible tells us and this is why we need to understand.

Moses! He led Israel out of captivity. Jesus! He does too. The Word of God is so FULL of examples like this. I hope to share more. 

John‬ ‭10:10‬ ‭- The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Look to Him

 Colossians‬ ‭3:2‬ ‭- Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you will want to keep your focus on Him, on the things above, on His truth and promises. He has the world in His hands. He knows the end from the beginning. He sees through all deception (that should scare a lot of people). He will return to judge wickedness and rescue the righteous. 

He tells us there is no need to fear man if we have faith in Him. If we are in Christ, our eternal lives are secure...even if the enemy wants to take our lives. To die is GAIN! 

Do NOT be fearful. The enemy’s only task is to fill us with fear that we lose our faith, that we submit to him and be crushed, as he will be some day. His purposes are to steal, kill and destroy. He is the greatest deceiver of mankind. He uses people to propagate lies. He uses fake media too! 

Want to know why there is division? He has done it. He stands for every wicked thing in the world. He stands against all the goodness of God. He is jealous...of Jesus. Why? Because he knows that one day soon Jesus will win the battle.

But we should not stay focused on satan. He was created by God, but he has far less power. God has allowed him the capability of doing just so much, even when it hurts us, but it is used to bring about God’s plans. What father doesn’t punish a child for doing wrong, or something possibly dangerous, because he loves him? God is constantly doing what He must to draw us closer to Him and often than comes in the form of hardship, sorrow, anxiousness. Do NOT fear, He is urging people; look to Him not the circumstances. 

There is only One whose power is greater. He will crush his head one day. He is our only hope. Look to Him.  

Philippians‬ ‭1:21,23-24‬ ‭- For to me, to live is Christ [He is my source of joy, my reason to live] and to die is gain [for I will be with Him in eternity].

But I am hard-pressed between the two. I have the desire to leave [this world] and be with Christ, for that is far, far better; yet to remain in my body is more necessary and essential for your sake.

MY Redeemer Lives

Job 19:25 - For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth...

MY Redeemer lives! I know this. Do you? 

I do not serve a dead Messiah. Jesus rose from the dead. He is no longer on the cross. There is no need to mourn His death. He STILL calls all people to repentance and salvation through HIM. 

No amount of money, good deeds, no artificial prayers will get anyone to heaven. Only a WILLINGNESS to admit to Him one is a sinner and needs Jesus, in humility, will save! This is wise. 

Let go of pride, stubbornness, hardheartedness, self-centeredness, belief that one knows better than God. All the things one tends to believe is necessary to please God has to be set aside. Salvation is of the Lord, not works, not anything of our own doing, other than to humble one's self before God and submit to Him. This is how one becomes a child of God. It's not about me, you or anyone else. It’s about Jesus only. It’s about going to Him. 

It has been an admonition and warning all throughout the Word. God punished Israel in the Old Testament when they failed to trust Him because things didn’t go according to man’s idea. Not wise.

Praise God He can change hearts, open eyes, bring true wisdom to those who WANT to seek Him, know Him, love Him and know that He lives. 

Ignoring all this is certainly possible but it comes at a very deadly cost. Take this to heart and respond to Him and receive life though it, too, comes with a cost.

We are not ever promised an easy life in Christ, but He WILL provide supernatural, Divine peace, safety and provision to those who choose to put their trust in only Him. 

Forget man and government. For the very most part, they do not look to God for wisdom. It’s about man’s wisdom, perhaps at times man’s pride. The fear OF THE  LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7)

Pushing these words of truth aside is a foolish thing...I know that my Redeemer lives! He has given me a heart for His wisdom. He has given me the promise of eternal life.

As a worship song states, 

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow

Because He lives, all fear is gone

Because I know He holds the future

And life is worth the living, just because He lives

Job 29:26-27 - And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!