Jesus giving Himself to me and making me one with Him.
Who could count the numberless thousands of perfect unblemished animals that were slain on Jewish altars of sacrifice (Leviticus 7:38) for many years. But it was never enough and could never be enough. God temporarily withheld final punishment for sin; but, His holy furious wrath was not satisfied or appeased. His righteous indignation and outrage smoldered within Him. The animal blood had no permanent cleansing power because the animals had no choice. The more perfect the animals were, the more likely that they would be killed for sacrifice. But this was a temporary measure imposed by the Law of God. The Law could make nothing perfect, could not free them from the dominion of sin and give them eternal life. But what the Law could not do (Romans 8:3) God did. God had a choice (John 3:16, Romans 5:10) Jesus had a choice (John 10:17-18) to lay down His life for the sheep and He had the power to take it again.
What did God choose to do? In the fullness of time (Galatians 4:4) when God could restrain Himself no longer, in His perfect timing when (John 17:1) the hour had come, God sent His own beloved Son into the world to redeem the world at tremendous cost. Why did the Son have to be born of a Woman? If Jesus had had a human father, He would have inherited the fallen nature of Adam and thereby would be a sinner and could not be the perfect sinless atoning sacrifice which holy God declared essential. Jesus went into the Holy of Holies in heaven after His Resurrection (Hebrews 9:12) with His own Blood. Why does Scripture specify that it was His own Blood? The human Blood of Jesus was the one and only sinless Blood that ever existed. The holy sinless Blood of Jesus could have done nothing for us until He paid the horrendous price of shedding it, pouring it out into a holy Blood Covenant, not of Law but of mercy, righteousness and grace. Everything we have and look forward to, depends on the Atonement of Jesus. God had no lasting cause for permanent delight in continual (Hebrews 10:6-7) animal sacrifices so Jesus chose to do God’s will, which long before had been prophesied (Psalms 46:6-8) and must be fulfilled. So supremely worthy is the Lamb of God that the one time death and sacrifice of Jesus (Hebrews 9:12) fully met and satisfied all of God’s requirements to cover and atone for all the sin of all the world. The great Transaction (John 19:30, Hebrews 10:12) was completed.
Because we were created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27) we humans have a free will, a choice. In every parable Jesus told (Pastor McBride) “there were only 2 options, wise or unwise, narrow way or wide way, obey God or obey Satan. Only 2 choices. Never more! There is always only 2 choices.” Choose for yourselves (Joshua 24:15-16) whom you will obey. The people gave Joshua a quick hasty answer of impulse, not of counting-the-cost commitment. Like (Daniel 1:8) we can determine in our hearts to obey the Lord. This is a daily opportunity for obedience. In everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18) give thanks. Why? Because it is God’s will and for our good for us to give thanks. Also, whatever is happening in the life of an obedient Christian at this time is God’s will for us to benefit us and therefore a motivating reason to be continually thankful.
God is not willing (2 Peter 3:9) that any should perish (Dr. Youssef) “God’s patience with sinners is not God’s approval of their sin and His patience has a limit”. Wherever we are we have been appointed by Jesus (Acts 1:8) to be His witnesses. Having received salvation, we are debtors (1 Peter 3:15) to buy up the opportunities and always be prepared and ready to tell others about the good news of salvation found only in the Lord Jesus.
For unsaved people this present life is as good as it will get. For born-again Christians their present life in this fallen world is as bad as it will get. For myself, I can honestly say that I have never been worse physically but I have never been richer spiritually and I have so many blessings. I have no room for complaints. Jesus said (John 14:23) that the Father and He would make their home in our hearts and that the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17) would be with us and indwell us forever. It is an awesome wonder-filled holy privilege to be indwelt by the Triune God. Even though my life on earth is wonderful because of God’s goodness and fellowship with Him, it is not the life I am eagerly looking forward to, nothing like the life I will live in heaven and in all eternity.
Everything minus Jesus equals a total of NOTHING.
Jesus plus nothing equals a total of eternal EVERYTHING.
Jesus often spoke of rest but He (Philippians 3:12, 1 Corinthians 10:31) never mentioned retirement. (Oswald Chambers) “The Holy Spirit is determined that we shall realize Jesus Christ in every domain of life.” Every circumstance is the opportunity (Philippians 3:10) for me to know Him better, more deeply, more clearly in His Resurrection power and to share His heart with me. Jesus died FOR me and I want to be conformed to His death by dying to self and to everything IN me that was never in Jesus. When we die physically (Philippians 1:21) we gain heaven but also, while still here on earth, there is great gain in dying to self.
When Jesus comes to rapture His Church, our longed-for Bridegroom, (Thessalonians 4:16-17) He will bring our departed loved ones with Him. They are not coming primarily to meet and rejoin us, that is secondary. They are coming to enter their newly resurrected glorified bodies. Then, in a split second,we also will be changed (Philippians 3:21) into a body like Christ’s own glorious body. We will never again experience a parting from loved ones and – crowning glory – we will be forever with our precious, beloved Lord Jesus Christ. The Cross of Calvary, where Jesus shed Hs precious, priceless Blood, that Cross is the Crown of eternity.
It is God’s will (1 Thessalonians 4:3) that we be sanctified but sanctification is not Jesus giving me the power to be like Him. It is Jesus giving Himself to me and making me one with Him. All that I have is in Jesus and all that Jesus is (1 Corinthians 1:30, 1 Corinthians 2:16) is in me. All the time, everywhere (Galatians 2:20) not I but Christ.