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The message of judgment for sins has always been unpopular with those who want to run their own lives. It still is. But the fact remains: No matter how much we try to put off or forget judgment, it will still occur, right on schedule—both in this world and the next. Judgment for rebellion is no pleasant thought when the Judge is a just God who keeps a very detailed, specific record of every thought and every action we’ve ever known. The prophet Amos warned the northern kingdom of Israel that impending doom was near. He had cried out,
“Woe to them that are at ease in Zion…that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near; That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock…That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of music…That drink wine in bowls, and…are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph. Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive…The Lord GOD hath sworn by himself…therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein…For, behold, the LORD …will smite the great house with breaches…for ye have turned judgment into gall…behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel, saith the LORD the God of hosts; and they shall afflict you…”
(Amos 6: 1-14)
But Israel scoffed at Amos’ words. In spite of increasing disease and frightful storms, the nation still didn’t really think these were “the beginning of sorrows”. They thought “somebody will get a handle on this economy…someone will come up with a cure for this rampant disease.” (Sounds like our sexually transmitted diseases, like AIDS, doesn’t it?) “After all,” they said Continue reading
disciples, both personally and as a group. They were desperately trying to make sense of the recent events which had ended in Jesus’ death. They were now afraid they may have been wrong about Him being the Promised One. All the while, they were fearful of what the next opening of the door might bring. They were afraid to go out, but afraid to stay in. They were simply—afraid! Each day passed in tearful grief and painful questionings. As the weekly Sabbath day came to a close, their questions were no more answered than they had been three days ago when they watched Him die. Oh, why had He died?
Jesus cried out, “It…is…finished!” (John 19:30) The words rang with victory, with accomplishment! It was as if His perspective on this whole ordeal was that a work was being done. The tone of His voice spoke of completing something that had been planned from eternity past. The books were now balanced! He had paid man’s debt to God: That debt of one perfect life which man had incurred in Eden when he used, for selfish purposes, the perfect life God had loaned him. Jesus’ perfect life had been offered up as a sacrifice to God to pay man’s debt. The work was now accomplished! (Colossians 2:13-15)
“…choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served…or the gods of the Amorites…but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
Samuel Adams, the Father of our American Revolution, stated,
In his first inaugural address he stated words of such wisdom that they should sober and inspire every one of us who are Americans. If heeded, they will inspire us to become an instrument in the hands of Almighty God for the good of our children and the entire earth.
By now it was noon, and a strange thing began to happen. The sky began to darken with an eerie blackness. For a few brief moments, the air was so still it seemed to choke you as the darkness deepened. Then the earth began to tremble. Lightning bolts were exploding against the ground. Then, unexpectedly, the voice of Jesus pierced the darkness. In a loud, wrenching voice Jesus cried out,
seen—Jesus suddenly breaks in with another statement. As He looks down from the cross, He sees His mother standing there beside one of His most devoted followers, whose name is John. Looking into the eyes of His mother with those amazing eyes of peace, He says, “Woman, behold your son.” (John 19:26-27) Then looking into the face of the youthful John, He says, “Behold, your mother!” Thus, He has fulfilled His last earthly obligation. Being the oldest son in the family, it is His responsibility to see that His mother is cared for in her latter years. He is dying, thus, He gives her to a trusted friend (and John fulfilled that obligation). Watching all of this, the soldier is becoming more convinced that Jesus is Who He says He is. And if He is God’s Son, then that fact demands He be listened to. If He was God’s Son, then He would be right about everything. And if there was only one God and He sent His Son to earth to be a man that would prove He cared about us. If this was true, the Creator was evidently trying to communicate something to us humans. What could it be?
blood of its Creator.
hardest part of this hideous work would be done. One more…