Total Gospel

Job 19:25-27 - For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; 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!

There’s a yearning in my heart...to see my Redeemer. It will be either upon my death or when He returns. I can’t imagine....

Dwelling on a sermon our Pastor preached and how it so ties in with a recent post. I’m so amazed at how this God of ours is so great. He never ceases to surprise me. My thoughts being in tune with His or others’.

Twice in one week I either posted on Facebook or wrote a blog and shared or published with a hint of trepidation. I fear being way off base in my thoughts or offending, yet Jesus’ Words often offended those who did not want to hear. Sometimes pastors, those whose desire is only to show people the truth of the Word, will offend too. In one instance what I posted was well received. The blog was confirmed that morning after I posted it!

The post of July 15, 2018 spoke of humility. Having a humble heart before the Lord. It’s the only way we can come to Him and probably why so many will not receive Christ. Pride gets in the way. The number one sin. 

In Sunday school in the Book of Job, the scriptures above, we see a picture of Jesus. This is Old Testament. They didn’t know about Jesus. But the manner of His life and death was beginning to emerge. Here, our Redeemer would be resurrected, which means He had to have died, and would live on for all to see. 

Many churches preach on having a good life now, taking in all we can before our time is up. Bucket lists come to mind. Checking off all the things we’d like to do before we go. What if we go next week? Or never wake up in the morning? Was knowing Jesus ever on that list? He should be the first thing on that list...then the list would be meaningless!!! You’d have all you need. 

We got to talking about churches preaching the total Gospel. What is that? A lot of churches today only preach the love of God and how we are saved by grace and good works. But there’s something missing. The thing churches avoid so as not to offend...our sin. Why do we need a Redeemer? Because of our sin. But I’m a good person. In your eyes you might be, but we’re all sinners just the same. God says so! We’re born into sin. We live in that sin until we repent of it and turn to Jesus for forgiveness. 

Our sermon was called Activating the Remedy. The remedy for what? For sin. What is the remedy? The blood of Jesus. The previous Sunday a guest preacher spoke on sin and how only...only...the blood of Jesus can cleanse us of our sin.

That means humbling ourselves before the Creator of this universe, ridding ourselves of stiff necks and turning to Him. Only.the.blood.of.Jesus. His death on that old rugged cross.

A song we sang (Nothing But the Blood) says this: 
Nothing can for sin atone: 
nothing but the blood of Jesus. 
Naught of good that I have done: nothing but the blood of Jesus. 
There you have it. Nothing.but.the.blood.of.Jesus.

So someone in Sunday school described the Total Gospel message. It started just after creation with life, then death when sin entered in. We see it all around us daily, seasonally, politically and physically, this birth, life, then death. It continues. Jesus was born, lived, died then resurrected and still lives today. Our eternal life is only through Him. Because He lives we can live along side Him. Our old lives must die so a new spiritual life can be birthed that we might live in Christ forever. We must humble ourselves, though. That can be the hard part. The hard heart must be softened and stiff necks against God loosened up. 

One last thing that I jotted down that really didn’t seem to fit here but now I see it does! Job went through some horrendous trials. We can ask ourselves why we go through some of the things we do. Illness, loss, doubt, insecurity. It was said: God never takes us to a place where He is not (if we are in Christ). That can also apply to receiving Christ. He will be there and will stay if your heart is truly turned to Him. You won’t be taking that step of faith without Him as a safety net. You will be safe! He will never leave or forsake us.

Without Jesus we will die. Like I've said many, many times. This is not head knowledge of who He is but a heart attitude for Him. There is no heaven for those who are not right with the Lord. You are still an enemy, as I mentioned one time. The road to destruction is very large but the road to eternal life is very narrow, and growing narrower today as many of us have noticed. But listen to what God will do...from the Old Testament. This is written many times in the Word.

2Chronicles 36:12-13 - He did evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and did not humble himself... And he also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear an oath by God; but he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning TO the LORD God of Israel.
2Chronicles 12:12 - When he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him, so as not to destroy him completely; and things also went well in Judah.

Awesomeness of Humility

Psalm 19:1-2 - The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge.

I mentioned contemplation several days ago. Contemplation of the true meaning of Christmas, of our Lord and Savior, not the world view of Christmas. It's not about the decorations, it's about our interaction, our relationship with that little baby who will one day be King of the world.

Christmas is about reflecting on what He has done for us. A time to review the days prior to His birth...the miraculousness of His conception, the meaning of it, the humbleness of the birth of so great a figure in this world.

I am drawn once again to the DVD called the Star of Bethlehem (you can see the entire DVD on Youtube! Watch the first 10 minute segment and get hooked...) and again am amazed at the way God aligned everything. No man can explain this miracle away. There most definitely was a Divine hand in it all. If anyone can wrap their head around how even the stars and constellations point to Jesus, maybe, just maybe the idea of a real God desiring of a real relationship with each of us might come about some day. God set them all in place and all the heavens declare the awesome glory of God. His intricate and omniscient wisdom displayed so all can see. Of all creation, though, Jesus is the greatest glory...and the greatest story.

The grandeur and awesomeness of God permeates Scripture. His words point always to His son. From Genesis to Revelation you can be sure that in some way Jesus is seen. It all points to Him because it's all about Him. Period. All about Him. Just like Christmas should be.

Conclusion: He must be Someone of great importance!

Before time began, God knew the beginning from the end. He mapped it out so delicately and with the minutest details, one can only marvel at it all. And He created all that we might see the enormousness of what we cannot understand...that we might believe in Him and trust in His good works done for us. His plan from before the beginning of time was to draw us into relationship with Him and through the birth, life, death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus, has been described in detail in His Book, in His creation...in His stars...and the Star of Bethlehem which was studied so long ago by ancient astronomers who sought out the One whom they and heard about. And whom they found...by way of that very star.

If God could draw these three magi, can He not draw others? How can one NOT be drawn to this story of redemption? I know I’m not the only one who wants to know to the very depths of my soul how God designed all this just for me. A personal God. If He did it just for me, He'll do it just for you. Wouldn't everyone want to dig into the recesses of their hearts, souls and minds to understand the awesomeness of the depth of God's glorious plan for ALL mankind? To know so well the plan He has laid out and that is there each and every day for anyone to receive?

If there is even just the littlest bit of curiosity, call out...or whisper...for Him to show you. Ask to know that you know who this Jesus is...for you, for your family, for your friends, for the world. If the desire in your heart is real, He will show you.

Jesus was brought to this earth from His throne in heaven. He left the comfort of it that He might come humbly, live humbly, die humbly...and rise up triumphantly to eternal life...as an example to us what we can have if we just look to Him and trust Him. Why would God the Father create all the world, write His book and send His Son if what Jesus did for us was a lie? 

Confess with your mouth...receive the Spirit of life...become one again with the Father. Turn away from what the world believes is truth and enter into the truth of Jesus Christ. Receive Him. Let this be an even more meaningful season...He truly is the reason for this season. Relationship with Jesus can become a most joyful occasion and you might never look at Christmas again the same way. Our God did awesome things, then humbly came down from heaven for you and for me. Rejoice this Christmas at the things He has done. 

Matthew 2:9-10 - ...and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.

God Steps In

Micah 6:8 - He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? 

We all have things in our lives of which we can't make sense. They might be situations of little minor irritations to complete hopelessness. We've done all we can and nothing we do seems to be able to work them out.

Bad things happen to good people. Sometimes it's just what life doles out to us. Sometimes we make consistently poor choices. In either event we might actually come to the end of our rope...or hope.

Christmas is about the perfect gift. It's about the miraculous birth of an even more miraculous boy. His name is Jesus. He is also called Emmanuel or God with us. He came that we would have that hope. He willingly chose to leave His rightful place on the throne in heaven to be born on earth in humble surroundings by humble parents, to live a humble life and die a tragic and humiliating death...for all mankind.

God stepped into our lives then so He could make Himself known, that those who heard Him speak, watched Him heal, or touched His wounded body, could continue to proclaim the awesomeness of this Man.

I heard the verse of a song I know I’ve mentioned once before and was taken once again back to the first time I heard those words, which came directly from Scripture. It’s the above Scripture. He does show us what is good. He shows us our imperfections and inability to succeed apart from Him. We are to walk humbly with Him. I think of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden before the apple incident. They walked and talked with God. Then one little bite of that forbidden fruit and they were separated from His presence. That’s when I believe we began to do things on our own, in our own way, in our own strength. It was more difficult to live without the real presence of God. 

And so life goes on for so many in today’s world. When we allow ourselves to stop dead in our tracks of life and realize we cannot do all things on our own, without Divine help, we can find a Perfect Gift when we finally seek His assistance.

I was watching a Christmas movie the other night...more like listening as I busied myself with a project. A question was asked of someone, What was the first Christmas present? The man answered glibly, A tie? He was asked to continue thinking about it.

Later this man and his wife were devastated by the loss of their small girl. In time it was evident that this man needed more than his work could do to cover up the grief. He needed the One who could replace the sorrow. Long story short, he realized that the first real Christmas gift was a Baby. The Baby Jesus was the first great gift anyone ever needed. Along with His birth came love. He came out of love that He might, through this love, save us from ourselves, seeped in our sin, wandering our own aimless directions into oblivion and into a very certain territory of eternal death.

Jesus paid the price by being born with the very intent of dying for us. He will wash away the sorrow and ugliness of sin. Struggling without His help is why He came. He came to take up our burdens, to give us His strength, to show us a great future, despite hardships and even death, that can be filled with hope. The hope of Jesus Christ, the hope of glory.

When we are at the end of ourselves we are humbled. Jesus is only a prayer away. He steps into our lives if we so choose and He brings with Him hope, peace, love and most of all forgiveness of all the things we did (and will do) apart from Him and against His will.

God stepped into this world for us. He steps into the hearts of all who seek Him. Glory to God in the highest. I heard a woman last night say that when she finally gave her life to Christ her first Christmas as an adult with her sins forgiven, her past life behind and the great future she now knew lay before her, the words to all the well thought out Christmas songs made so much more sense and touched her in a whole new way. That's funny because in one of the songs (Hark, the Herald Angels Sing) that she and a group sang, some of the  words go like this:

Mild He lays His glory by

Born that man no more may die

Born to raise the sons of earth

Born to give them second birth...

Born to give them second birth popped out last night for me, again. Second birth. Born again. We sing these songs multiple times during the Christmas season. He humbly came down from heaven, that glorious place, that He might die for us...to give us a second birth. A spiritual birth. The birth I talk about in my blogs. One that comes when we humbly give ourselves to Him, give all our problems over, decide we cannot make it in this world without Him and then grab hold of this new life in Christ.

All it takes us humbly confessing to Him our need for Him, confessing we've sinned and fall way so short of His glory and asking Him for forgiveness of our sins, our treading this world in our own strength, pride and stubbornness, and allowing Him to step into our lives. We don’t need to go to anyone else. He is a God who hears our prayers. 

God steps in...the old is made new...eternal death is replaced by eternal life. Receive the true meaning of Christmas this year, not a tie, but a baby Boy, Emmanuel, God with us. He is the God who steps into our lives when we humbly come to the end of ourselves.

Psalm 86:5 - For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You.