CRUSHED

ALIVE IN CHRIST

Often I have wondered .....

-- observing the willful, vile, rebellious

behaviour of humans through all the ages

of history,

-- seeing my own heart,

..... why didn't God crush us under His heel,

stamp us into oblivion and start over with fresh,

new humans?

As I pondered, the thought came that what He

actually did transcends all the questions and

possibilities of my wonderings.

He did crush us and He did make a way for an end to

our depraved, selfish lives. When did He do this?

When we were crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20).

I see more clearly than ever why Jesus had to die.

The life we had received from Adam was blighted -

ruined - spiritually dead - hopeless. The corrupt

nature and deceitful heart will never improve or

change; the flesh is always at enmity with God

(Romans 8:7).

Instead of starting over Himself with a brand-new

race of humans to replace us, God offers us the

opportunity of starting over with a brand-new Life

to replace the old life. When Jesus rose from the

dead, He rose to a brand-new quality of Life, a Life

never known before, VICTORIOUS, RESURRECTION LIFE.

And therefore ... because we were crucified with

Him, we also rose in newness of Life (Romans 6:4).

Oh, sweet mystery ..... not I but Christ,

Christ in me the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).

I want to understand more and more until I am

overwhelmed with gratitude and surrender.