Jesus became everything that God hated so that I could become everything that God loved.
Pain rivets us as we see the demon-crazed mob (Matthew 27:28-30) spitting in the face of Jesus, blindfolding Him, punching Him and mocking Him. Then we hear those religious people screaming - - crucify HIM.
Worthy – worthy is the Lamb Who was slain. So worthy is He that we look forward to the time when we will see no spitting, no abuse or mocking but a very different scene. We will see every knee of every human, including Caiaphas, Pilate and the religious fools (PHLP.2:10-11) bowing before HIM to acknowledge and proclaim His sovereign Lordship. Then we will hear - - not screams for His crucifixion - - all rebellion will be vanquished forever - - we will hear every human of all time confess, acknowledge, proclaim that JESUS CHRIST is LORD. We will join in the joyous celebration to crown HIM LORD of all. Everything in existence (1 Peter 3:22) is in subjection to the Lord Jesus Christ.
I think the words and actions of those back then, who are now in hell awaiting the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15) and the Lake of Fire, will continually play over and over in their memories in endless torment.
I was reading Psalm 139, going over it slowly in conversation with the Lord and I saw something I had not realized so clearly before. There is always unfailing perfection in God’s pre-arranged purposes and timing. So, I can see the connection of Psalm 139 to this meditation. Just as the Lord has ordained the perfect time for the Son of God to come to earth as MAN, to die and bring redemption, even so He has ordained the perfect time and length of time and purpose for you and me to inhabit this world. We read (Psalm 119:6) that all our days are written in God’s Book. The Holy Spirit showed me what God’s Book is and what that Book means to me personally. That Book has great significance for me.
God’s Book is His bank book for my lifespan, an account in heaven which contains all the days originally deposited to my account - - all the days I have left on earth. Early every morning God makes a withdrawal entry in the bank book, takes out one day from my account and gives me that day for my use on earth. Only the Lord knows my bank balance and when my account will be depleted. How I use my days on earth will affect my position in heaven. Based on what I have seen and what I have heard, will my use of my allotted days deny and dishonour the Lord – OR – will I choose to operate in the assurance (1 Corinthians 1:30) that Jesus Christ is made to me all I need in order to honour and glorify God?
(Dr. STANLEY) “Our society is becoming unfit to live in because parents are growing up children with no discipline and no respect for authority. We are to be salt and light witnesses in this world. Nothing in God’s Word tells us to turn off the light or to crawl back into the salt box. Our adversity is God’s university. We must have (1 Peter 3:15-16) intense devotion to Jesus and a clear testimony and a clear conscience. Our lives must match our message.” Our responsibility as Christians is to conduct our lives in obedience to the Truth so that we are an influence for good. If we are attacked, because we are Christians, our response of kindness will point (1 Peter 2:11-12) lost people to the Saviour. (OSWALD CHAMBERS) “The perfections of Jesus imparted to us – then slowly and surely we begin to live a life of ineffable order, sanity and holiness.”
My imagination is a time machine which the Holy Spirit uses, as I meditate, to transport me to the past or the future in scripture. I have seen and heard some wonderful things. I saw the astonishment on the faces of the women. I felt the wonder and joy in their hearts and I joined in their worship as they knelt (Matthew 28:9) and clung to the feet of Jesus on Resurrection Day. Jesus said He would and He did (Matthew 16:21, Matthew 28:6) rise from death. With such astounding validation to what He said, how could we possibly find any reason on earth not to believe everything He said?
There is one happening I have observed many times and it always touches my heart very deeply. Come and watch with me. Oh look! There is a man with leprosy (Mark 1:40-41) ignoring the shocked crowd and running right up to Jesus. He kneels before Jesus and I hear him say – “if You are willing You can make me clean.” Precious Jesus does not respond just with words of hope but also with a touch of love. I see Jesus now stretch out His hand and He gently touches the leper. Then I hear Jesus say – “I am willing, be clean”. Who but Jesus would touch a leper?! Is it obvious to those around me that this very same Jesus lives in me? Based on what I see and what I hear - - how do I spend each God-given day as my lifespan bank account balance dwindles down? Without grace (Ephesians 2:8) holiness (1 Timothy 6:16) forbids mercy.
A familiar Truth came to me last night in a new more insightful way. It was when I was, by faith, in the high and holy place (Isaiah 57:15) where God dwells in eternity and I was kneeling before the Throne of Grace in prayer. Suddenly I heard myself say words I had never spoken in that way before and had never heard before. I said – Jesus became everything that God hated so that I could become everything that God loved. Those words startled me, made me tremble and I was troubled through part of the night. When the Holy Spirit guided me to (2 Corinthians 5:21) and to dig deeper, God the Father had to (Matthew 27:46) forsake Jesus because when He was made to be SIN for us - - - He became everything that God hated until He paid in full, because Jesus paid so fully and completely for my redemption, I became the righteousness of God in Him - - - I became everything that God loved!!! WORTHY of all worship, love and praise forever is the LAMB of GOD who alone could make possible this Great Exchange.