It is Maundy Thursday as I write; this is the time many Christians remember the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Do they really take to their hearts the true significance of it all, especially in the times they live in? Are they cognizant of the sin nature which was addressed on the cross of Calvary? “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
Try whatever is in the human mind, it can never bring about a reconciliation between a faultless Creator and a fallen creation. Rituals, incantations, and even charitable acts go nowhere.
All this is not good enough where the Maker of mankind is concerned.
“But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousness are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6).
Our Heavenly Father is full of grace and mercy. He is fully aware of the weakness and futility of the human race with regard to dealing with the fallen nature. It did not please Him to see humanity embrace the pathway to eternal condemnation. He would provide a way out of this bad situation. This would be the only way by which the curse of sin so caused by the folly of Adam could be shattered!
His one and only way out of this sad end for mankind is a unique act of love. A love that no created being could be capable of attaining.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
His only begotten Son would suffer humiliation, rejection, and prolonged physical torment on the cross of Calvary before breathing His last breath. He did take every fault of humanity – past, present, and future – by this tortuous option. He was truly without iniquity, yet He took on the iniquities of the human race by way of untold suffering before death.
“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
There we have it, an avenue that leads to eternal glory. There is no need for cumbersome rituals to partake of this option. Simply put, there has to be a hundred percent belief in the Lord Jesus Christ once an individual accepts Him as Lord and Saviour. A firm belief goes hand in hand with a lifestyle that is intolerant of sin. The righteousness of God fills the space once occupied by the sin nature. With that in mind, there can only be a victorious life that is never devoid of His blessings.
The sad truth as I continue to write is this: more and more people around the globe are turning their backs on this God-given pathway to eternal glory. Fewer and fewer people want to talk about the sin nature simply because it somehow spoils the fun they claim to be having. They would mock and poke fun at Romans 6:23; “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Mention of the Grim Reaper is taboo, especially when everyone is in party mode. There is incessant mockery of God’s gift; these folks view it as a far-fetched pie in the sky. So they carry on sinning as if there is no tomorrow. No to the day of reckoning where the long line in the Great White Throne judgment becomes an inescapable reality!
Easter will come and go, but let the critical aspect sink in for the rest of the year – if we are going to still be around at Thanksgiving. Do not sweep aside the inherent weakness in all of us – that sin nature, which sticks out like a sore thumb! On this note, we ought to uphold the righteousness of God in our daily living. Christ has to be the centerpiece of our lives.
“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8).
Multitudes in places like China and Iran have no problem purifying their hearts by drawing near to the Lord – even if it ends up in incarceration and death. So many in what is still known as the free world do not have such challenges when it comes to embracing God’s love gift. Yet they shrug off the passport to eternal glory.
Right at this point in time, it is still a gentle breeze when it comes to accepting God’s love gift if you are residing in North America, Europe, and Oceania (Australia plus New Zealand). A very drastic tectonic shift is in the works, and it could pop up unannounced. Once the Body of Christ is removed from this fallen planet, things will be very different. It is going to be far worse than what is happening in many totalitarian countries and failed states.
Time is indeed running out at close to warp speed. This is definitely the last opportunity for you to free yourself from the fallen nature and take on a new life in Christ Jesus. This option may not be available all of a sudden. The world will be in an unspeakable state, and those who come to Christ at this time will get the worst end of the stick. Call on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and be safe in the Body of believers.
“that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10).
Come quickly, Lord Jesus.
Edwin
Contact me at edwinuk13@gmail.com