Why are we here?Ā TODAY, I mean! As Christians, we believe in the God of Israel. The God who created the Heavens, the Seas, and the Earth. The God who created the inhabitants of each of those realms ā the sun, moon, and stars, the birds, the sea creatures, the animals and mankind. Man and woman, created in His image, intended to co-rule over His creation in partnership with Him.
But the temptation of Sin entered this garden and manās submission to that temptation, ruined their hearts. They failed to trust God and disobeyed Him. They freely chose the opportunity to define Good and Evil for themselves. As a result, they were cast out of Eden ā with the promise that God would reconcile humanity back to Himself through the seed of the woman to defeat the seed of the snake.
This is the God who selected Abraham, then made the promise that through Abraham salvation would come to many nations. We often read through the brilliant story of the bible ā Old and New Testament as Plan A and Plan B.
Plan A: The Israelites, descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, were chosen to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Priests were those who could mediateā¦ intercedeā¦ interveneā¦ between people and God.Ā Holiness is absolute perfectionā¦ set-apart from everything elseā¦ (Words fail to adequately describe Godās holiness when considering all that He has made.)Ā The Israelites were given a set of rules by God that allowed them in His presence. And more importantly, allowed Him to be in theirs.
The blessings of the nation of Israel shouldāve called the attention of all the surrounding nations. The call to bring man back to a relationship with God. But Israel chose to rebel, over and over again. And the surrounding nations were no closer to hearing the call of God.
Plan B: Jesus ā God, Himself, in human form to fulfill the laws given to the Israelites. A descendant of Adamā¦ of Abrahamā¦ of Davidā¦ of Judah, (not Levi) ā¦ seed of a woman. The Son of Man who takes all the sin of the world into himself to be sacrificed on behalf of ALL mankind.Ā The power of death is defeated by the power of God. This Son of Man is resurrected and takes His rightful place, seated at the right-hand of God the Father, to co-rule over creation.
This event divides our history and time itselfā¦ BC and AD.Ā
When we read the bible, what do we believe?Ā Do we think that God failed in Plan A so he instituted Plan B? NO! That goes against everything we know about God.Ā Instead, we recognize these two sections of history as Part A and Part B.
PART A teaches us that even when God speaks directly to man and introduces miraculous events into our lives, we still defy Him and think we know better. We are heavily influenced by the sinful, broken world around us, and we define what is Good according to our own desires.
Part A teaches us that without His direct interference in our lives we are incapable of being āGoodā either to ourselves and especially not towards others.Ā We even look at the results of our own choices and blame God.
Forget other people in the world for a momentā¦ your siblings, your parents, your spouse, your friends, your coworkers, your neighbors, even the lives of celebrities, politicians, and strangers you hear about in the media.Ā Look at your own life, objectively.Ā Is or was there sin?Ā Do you or have you hurt others? Have you harbored ill-feelings toward others? Do you still? Is there hate in your heart?Ā If so, why does God still let you live?
Ah, the brilliance of PART B. Itās so simple. We live each day because He LOVES us!Ā
For God so LOVED the world that He gave His one and only son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
With PART B, an invitation for eternal life is given. The RSVP is to choose to believe in Jesus as our Savior.Ā Ā It is hard for many people to believe that they need a savior; that ālifeā is better and eternal only if we relinquish control. That sounds like madness! And, if it hadnāt been for the illustrated lessons ofĀ PART A, I could see the justification in that belief.Ā But PART A is there!Ā It is documented and authenticated from other historical sources. Our ignorance is not an excuse to ignore Godās call to life. He will keep calling and He demands a response.
Today, Valentine’s Day, I reflect and marvel over the LOVE of God for His children – even me.Ā