Fall on Your Face

I have often heard people say when I get to Heaven I'm going to tell God a thing or two. Or I'm going to ask Him why this happened or that happened. I say - no you won't.

My first knee-jerk response is that if your attitude toward the Lord God Almighty, Creator of all things, the only wise God is so demanding of your rights and so much in disregard of His power and His right to do as He pleases, you may not get to Heaven at all.

When Ezekiel had his vision of the 4 living creatures and the wheels, he stood in wonder and amazement at what he saw. Ezekiel then describes what he calls the "likeness of the glory of the Lord. When I saw it I fell on my face." (Ezekiel 1:22-28). We see it again in Ezekiel 3:23 as well as Revelation 7:11 and 11:16.

Paul tells Timothy that God dwells in "unapproachable light". (1 Timothy 6:15-16) God owes us nothing except damnation. But in His great love He has made a way for us to approach Him through His Son Jesus Christ. I am overwhelmed by that. 

Rather than demanding an audience to voice my grievances, I want to fall with my face to the floor in humble submission and gratitude that He chose me to be part of His family. I don't understand why things happen or don't happen as they do and so I will be the first to admit that I am not God. I don't need my questions answered because I know that God does no wrong. And there are some things I just won't understand this side of eternity.(1 Corinthians 13:12).

A Generous Heart

When Moses told the children of Israel about the contributions need for the construction of the Tabernacle, he said, "Whoever is of a generous heart, let him bring the Lord's contribution: gold, silver and bronze; blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen; goats' hair, tanned rams' skins, and goatskins; acacia wood, oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, and onyx stones and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece."  (Exodus 35:5-9)

The people gave so much that the craftsmen in charge of making everything told Moses to tell the people to stop bringing their offerings because "the people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the Lord has commanded us to do." (Exodus 36:4-5) They kept a record of what was used and it turned out to be over 1 ton of gold, about 3 1/2 tons of silver and 3 tons of bronze. (Exodus 38:24-31) Plus all the "soft" goods and precious stones.

Reading this made me wonder what it would be like if ALL God's people had a generous heart today. There are many very generous people in churches across the globe but statistically only 5% to 7% of "church" people tithe and that is down to around 4% with the economic downturn.

Imagine what would happen if 10% or 15% of God's children would tithe. Or what if 50% to 75% tithed. Can you even conceive of EVERYONE who claims Christ giving a mere 10% of their income to God's house? How would our country be different? Would we need less government intervention? Would God's Church take up their role to care for the poor and the widows and the orphans? Would we end hunger and homelessness in our neighborhoods or our country or even the world?

And what if we went beyond the tithe to New Testament giving which was much more generous than tithing? Unfortunately in America, we love our money and our stuff and our comfort. All too often we upgrade to a new data plan on our phones before we upgrade our giving to God's work.

"What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul." (Mark 8:36) It really is all about our hearts. Surrendering everything to Jesus including our money. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21).

Jealous God

When Moses went up on Mount Sinai to meet with God, Aaron and the children of Israel got restless and decided that Moses must not be coming back. The people came to Aaron and asked him to make them a god to worship so he gathered their gold, put it in the fire and fashioned a calf. This was put on an altar and the people began to worship it.

God sent Moses back down the mountain. Moses in his anger broke the tablets God had written on. God in His anger said they should leave but He wouldn't go with them because He would destroy them all. But Moses interceded with God on behalf of the Israelites and God said He would go with them. So Moses goes back up the mountain with new tablets so God can write the words again.

While Moses was on the mountain this time, God revealed a new name for Himself. He was telling Moses when the people came into the land of promise, God would drive out all the people living there. The children of Israel were to make no covenants with those people and they were to "tear down altars and break their pillars and cut down their Asherim (for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God) (Exodus 34:13-14)

It's easy to see the "other god" when it is a golden calf or an altar or something like that. But what about in our day and age. Oh, we still see gods - little carved statues and tapestries in store windows or restaurants but do we recognize other gods in our own lives. Maybe it is money or perhaps our work or our children. Maybe it is that favorite TV show that we watch instead of spending time with God - when we haven't even thought of Him all day, until just now, but we just can't miss the next episode.

Whatever it is, God is jealous for His children. His jealousy is not an evil, manipulative jealousy but one of great love. He does not want His children to suffer the pain or loss that comes from turning away from Him. He knows way better than we do the agony and destructiveness of sin - it cost Him the the pain and death of Jesus on the cross - and He longs for us to walk closely to Him. The fact that God is jealous for me to worship Him alone gives me great comfort and strength to face whatever comes my way.

Sex in the Church

I am so proud of my pastor, Perry Noble, and his willingness to speak God's truth even when he knows he will get a lot of angry feedback. Yesterday's message, "Sex in the Church - part one" was a powerful message on the need to follow God's plans for marriage and for sex. 

1. A Godly Man - a man who loves Jesus and has surrendered his life to Him

2. A Godly Woman - a woman who loves Jesus and has surrendered her life to Him

3. Marriage - defined by God as a man and a woman; government nor culture can change that definition

4. Sex - for procreation, enjoyment and intimacy

Putting sex before marriage negates the "godly" in the equation because it means the person is not willing to fully submit to Jesus and deny their own fleshly desires.

Next Sunday he will be speaking about specific issues affecting people in the church including pornography and homosexuality. These are not politically correct issues to address but God's love extends to all sinners who are willing to repent and surrender to Jesus as Lord. And there are people in just about every church who struggle with these and other sexual issues. The Church just usually chooses not to "offend" people with what God's word says.

Praying for Pastor P with more fervency this week as he prepares for "Sex in the Church - part two."

Holiness

One of the things I like about reading the Old Testament is seeing the holiness of God. Sometimes I forget who God really is. Jesus taught us to think of God as Father (Matthew 6:9), and even more intimately as daddy (Mark 14:36, Galatians 4:6). Jesus calls believers friends (John 15:15) and Paul assures us of our adoption into the family of God (Ephesians 1:5).

God didn't want the children of Israel to forget who He really is. So as God gives instruction to Moses about Aaron and his sons, about the altar and the sacrifices, about the incense and anointing oil, He tells Moses they are holy, it is holy, it shall become holy or it is most holy to the Lord. Not just anyone could approach God because He is so holy. (Exodus 29-30) Later they will be taught that God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. (Deuteronomy 4:24)

Jesus changed the need for sacrifice when He died on the cross (Revelation 1:5) and the curtain in the temple was torn (Mark 15:37-39). Direct access to God the Father through Jesus Christ the Son with the help of the Holy Spirit was given to all who have called on the name of the Lord. However, the majestic holiness of our God and Father, the consuming fire jealous God, was not diminished one bit. He may be Daddy but He is still God and as such demands attitudes and a lifestyle of respect and a sense of awe that He would even stoop down to earth to concern Himself with us.

The Bible tells us "be holy, as I am holy." (1 Peter 1:16 Leviticus 19:2). It also tells us to strive for holiness "without which no one will see the Lord." (Hebrews 12:14) Since God is the picture of holiness, I need to understand - by reading the Old Testament - what holiness looks like. Everything that was set aside for God's purposes was redeemed and made holy. The same is true for me. I have been redeemed and set aside for God's purposes by the cross of Jesus Christ. So I must act and think and speak and live in such a way that holiness becomes a natural part of my life. How? Read the Bible and do what it says!

God is in the Details

I'm reading now about God's conversation with Moses on Mount Sinai about the tabernacle and it's furnishings. (Exodus 25-27). God was very detailed in His descriptions of how His dwelling was to be made. Not only did He give Moses a verbal/written description, He also gave Him a picture. God wanted to be sure His house met His specifications so no detail was left unmentioned.

God cares about every detail of my life as well. However He doesn't give me a detailed picture of where to live or work or what car to buy or whom to marry. If I seek Him, He will speak to me about the issues of my life. He will guide me to make right decisions. He has already given each person who claims Jesus Christ as Savior a guiding light in the person of the Holy Spirit. Coupled with the Bible the Holy Spirit will guide me to go and do and be just who God created me to be.

There is great joy in doing life God's way!

What Now

Yesterday was a huge day at NewSpring. For weeks we have been encouraged to invite our friends to church on August 21. So August 21 finally came and we had around 18,000 people attend one of our 14 services in 5 locations through out South Carolina. We saw 490 people cross over from death to life by surrendering their hearts and their lives to Jesus. To commemorate the day of their spiritual birth, we put a hospital bracelet on each person's arm with "DOB 8/21/11" and the scripture Perry emphasized John 3:3.

They also were given a Bible and a Bible reading plan plus some other information. We got their pertinent details so we can follow up with them. We want to be sure they are baptized. We want to get them involved in a small group to be discipled in their new faith. We want them to becomes owners of NewSpring. We want them to continue to walk in the victory that is theirs through the cross of Christ.

But this morning as I was thinking about yesterday and praying for these who made decisions, I wondered how many would leave the hospital bracelet on to wear to school or work today. Would each boldly proclaim on Monday what Jesus did in their life on Sunday? It also made me think about my responsibility to them. I will contact some of the 86 from the Greenville campus who surrendered to Christ, to talk about next steps and to encourage them.

Beyond this, though, I should also boldly proclaim what Jesus is doing in my life right now as well as how He rescued me from death and a meaningless life to live an abundantly joyful life because of His great love and sacrifice, knowing that I will spend all eternity in the presence of Jesus. Jesus is always at work around me. If He is not doing something in my life now, I certainly can not pour into the lives of others. I must make time to seek God in the Bible and in prayer so that I might see Him in my circumstances, my family, my friends so I can proclaim His love and faithfulness to others.

Ten Commandments

As I was reading the ten commandments in Exodus 20, I began to think about all the controversy that surrounds the public placement of these in schools and courthouses. And of course that leads to thinking about crosses and manger scenes and other religious symbols placed in public (as in taxpayer paid for) places.

I just don't understand why some people get so angry and speak so rudely about these issues. These are folks who claim to be followers of Jesus, who happened to say a lot about loving our enemies and nothing that I can find about fighting them or the government. Jesus, in fact, upped the ante by saying not only do not murder, but do not hurl anger and insults!

You'd almost think they think God needs a defender - as if He is not powerful enough to defend Himself. Or maybe they think if someone reads the list and sees that God said don't murder, steal or lie, with which they agree, then they will just naturally decided to submit to the other seven. Or that seeing a manger scene on the courthouse lawn will cause someone to fall in love with Jesus. It just doesn't happen that way.

The USA is not a Christian country and will not be changed by a list on a wall in a courthouse or school room or by a cross or manger scene in anyone's yard - public or private. Those who lead our government can not save us from disaster or heal us of our wrongs. Change happens when I speak to people one on one about Jesus, inviting them to church, loving them as Jesus does. Then Jesus does what only He can do...He changes individual hearts and lives through His grace and mercy.

Bread for Today

After the children of Israel had been in the wilderness for a few weeks after being rescued from slavery, they began to grumble about the food they no longer had access to. They were missing Egypt and beginning to long to be there again, ready to go backward rather than forward.

I'm like that sometimes. There's nothing wrong with remembering what God has done in the past. In fact He encouraged the Israelites to build memorials and to hold feasts and to tell their children about what God had done for them - to sing His praises to the next generation. Remembering the past is one thing; longing for the past is another thing altogether.

I should never long for the good ole days with God but look forward with great anticipation toward what God is going to do now. God does not stop working in the world; He does not grow stagnant. If God is not doing something active in my life or the life of those around me, then the problem is with me or them, not God.

At the same time God does not want us to obsess over the future. Dreaming big dreams, praying big prayers, anticipating that God will do big things is great as long as I never forget that only God knows what tomorrow will bring. We have to trust Him for today AND tomorrow. When the Israelites went out in the mornings to gather the bread from Heaven, they were to take only enough for one day. If they tried to keep some over night it rotted - unless they were told to keep it. Jesus taught this same concept in the prayer He taught the disciples, "Give us this day our daily bread".

And besides, because I belong to Jesus my future is assured. "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:37-39

Pharaoh and Me

As I'm reading in Exodus about God and Moses and Pharaoh, I am reminded that there have been times in my life when I was a lot like Pharaoh.

Each time Moses and Aaron would come to Pharaoh and announce a plague his heart was hard. When the plague came and the country was devastated by it, Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron to plead with God to take it away. But once the crisis was gone, Pharaoh's heart was hardened again.

During my years as a prodigal daughter, I would periodically go to church - but only when I was in trouble of some sort. I would plead with God to fix my situation and even make some promises that I probably knew I wouldn't keep. Time and time again, God came to my rescue. Time and time again, I turned away from God to do my own thing.

The Bible tells us that the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart so that "you may know that I am the Lord."  After the eighth plague, Pharaoh went so far as to say "I have sinned." But it still took two more plagues and the death of all the firstborn of Egypt for Pharaoh to listen to God and let the people of Israel leave. God's purpose in this was to make it known that "the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel" and that "My wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt" and that "on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgement." 

Some people would say that God was cruel or unloving or unjust in hardening Pharaoh's heart. But God never does anything that does not accomplish His purposes. I don't know if God was hardening my heart during those years in the wilderness of sin. But knowing me and my strong-willed heart, I probably never would have fully submitted to Jesus as Lord if I had not been allowed to get to the very brink of death. God didn't just want me to attend church or give up the drugs and alcohol and sex, He wanted me to be wholeheartedly, devotedly His. And He knew that I was not ready to fully submit to Him when I would go back to church for a few weeks or months. He knew exactly what it would take to make me surrender.

So perhaps He did harden my heart so that I would not just go through the motions. If so, then hardening my heart is the most loving thing He could have ever done for me.

A Life of Ease

I don't know where followers of Jesus Christ get the idea that following Him means life will be easy. Maybe it's the televangelists, I don't know. Following Jesus means listening to His voice and doing what He says. But doing what He says does not always lead to a life of ease or comfort.

When Moses was called by God to go to Pharaoh to secure the release of the Israelites, He did what God asked him to do. The result? Pharaoh made the work harder for the Israelites, calling them lazy, which made the Israelites angry at Moses. (Exodus 5)

Then the plagues start and all indication is that the first three affected the Israelites as well as the Egyptians because it is not until the 4th plague that God says He will make a difference between the Egyptians and the Israelites. (Exodus 8:22-23) And He makes this separation, "that you may know that I am the Lord."

Things do not always go well for us when we do what Jesus asks. But it will always be right. It's a lot easier to manifest the fruit of the Spirit when there is no adversity, no difficult people, no trying circumstances but perhaps He is calling me to be His witness of love and grace and mercy and perseverance and hope and joy to those around me, despite my circumstances. Maybe that is why He doesn't give me a new job. Or why I have a contentious neighbor. Or why I'm "stuck" where I am.

He is more than my Savior, He is LORD. So...am I a believer or doubter; worshiper or complainer; obedient or disobedient? My actions, my thoughts, my response to my circumstances SHOW my answer to those questions to the world. Which leads me to ask do my Sunday and my Monday answer the same way?

Fails to Do Right

"So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." James 4:17

Too much of the time we focus on the sins we commit. Or we pat ourselves on the back because we don't do THAT - whatever "that" is. But we need always to remember that failure to do what Jesus has told us to do is sin. Disobedience can be as much what we DON'T do right as it is what we DO do wrong.

Maybe Jesus is telling me to speak to that person about Him. Or to stop to help the old woman with the broken down car. Or to get out of that relationship. Or to lead a Bible study group. Or to move. Or to downsize my house or car. Or to start giving more money to His Church. Or to volunteer with the homeless or helpless or hungry. Or to pray more for my pastor. Or to work harder to make my marriage grow better with the passing years.

Jesus is always speaking to His children through the Holy Spirit that indwells us. Am I listening? Am I obeying? Or am I making excuses why I can't? What my friend is hearing from God and is enthusiastic about may not be what He wants ME to do. I need to be in tune with God to hear what I should do. Jesus will not ask anyone to do anything that He will not empower them to do. But He does ask us to do things we think are impossible so that He can be glorified.

So turn off the music, the computer, the radio, leave Facebook and twitter for few hours and pick up the Bible and read. Take time to ask God what He would have YOU do - then listen to His answer and just do it.

Desires of Your Heart

At times I've heard people comment I prayed about something and it didn't happen. Didn't God say He would give me the desires of my heart? 

Hmmm...did He say that? Well, yes He did but there is a qualifier. The verse is Psalm 37:4, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Sometimes the attitude seems to be I gave my heart to Jesus now He MUST give me what I want. No! I must DELIGHT in the Lord. What does that mean?

It means Jesus needs to be enough; salvation needs to be enough. It means I want to know more and more about Jesus. It means I will spend time with Him every day. It means I will focus on what He wants for my life rather than what I think I want for my life. 

James said it this way, "You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions." James 4:3. God does delight in giving His children good gifts but more than anything He wants our hearts to be His. When we delight ourselves in Him, the desires of our hearts become His desires for us and He graciously gives us all we desire.

Rock n Roll Church

Today at Mobile Meals in Spartanburg I ran into a husband/wife delivery team who go to the church my parents attended and where I grew up and met Jesus. They are probably in their mid 80's.

We had not seen each other since funerals for my immediate family, the last one being 2006, so we talked a little bit and I had opportunity to tell them where I now go to church. The man, Billy, said he hoped it was not a rock and roll church. And I said, actually it is.

He leaned over and said I know a couple of people who probably would not be happy, one being your daddy. I said as respectfully and lovingly as I could that now that daddy is in heaven he would be thrilled that I am part of a church that is making heaven more crowded.

I am now 63 and I do not want to do "church" the same way I did when I was growing up. It was fine for the 1950's but it will not reach many of this generation or the next. The gospel message NEVER changes but our methods for delivering that message should change to reach a city full of dying people. I have never experienced a move of God like I have since being part of NewSpring. Thousands of people are being told every week of the loving sacrifice of Jesus and scores are accepting that message as Truth, confessing and repenting of sins and surrendering their lives to Jesus.

The service each week in NOT about me and my preferences but about Jesus and having a place where people look forward to bringing their non believing family, co-workers and neighbors, knowing they will enjoy the experience as well as hear about the saving grace of Jesus. Pastor P often says, Jesus was not boring and His church should not be either. To which I say, AMEN!!

From the Same Mouth

"With [the tongue] we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so." James 3:9-10

There have been times I've caught myself saying something unkind about a person or maybe a group of people and God has speared my heart with conviction of sin. In the verse prior to those above, James says, "no one can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison." 

How easy it is for us to tear down those we don't like or those we disagree with. As the political season heats up, the posturing for position in the polls begins, and the desire to win takes over the reaction of many who profess to be followers of Jesus will be to denigrate those who are on the "wrong" side, meaning the side the person speaking is not for.

Or what about all the debate over illegal immigrants. Do we hate a whole race of people, forgetting that they are made in the image of God? Do we tag them with labels that are demeaning - not having met or talked with any of them - lumping the legals and illegals all together?

Or what about the single mom with the unruly kids? Do we try to help or just shake our heads and talk about what a terrible mom she is?

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me. How untrue that is! Words are powerful and there are no take-backs. Once said the words are in our minds and can shape our lives for good or bad. My mom used to say if you can't say something nice, don't say anything when I was tattling on my brother or complaining about the kid down the street.

Sure there are times when sin needs to be confronted or a person needs to be talked to about an issue but that is done on a personal level with someone we have a relationship with. To make brash, broad statements about someone's competence, intelligence or purposes is to have an untamed tongue. How can we worship Jesus on Sunday and on Monday be spewing all sorts of trash about someone? James says it ought not to be.

Good Works

"For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead." James 2:26

Over the years as I've talked with people about what happens after you die, just about everyone believes there is Heaven and not many want to actually think there is Hell. If I ask why would God admit you to Heaven, I get a multitude of "good works" answers, even from many professing to be Christian. I read my Bible, I go to church, I pray - from those who are "Christian" or I take care of the earth, I help build houses for the poor, I try to do the right thing, from those who are not.

It's often hard to get the name of Jesus out of people. Why? Because they have not experienced the saving grace, the amazing mercy, the undeniable change that comes from repenting of sin and surrendering to Jesus as Lord and Savior. The Bible is very clear that we are not saved by our good works but by believing in Jesus Christ. (John 3:16, John 1:12, Mark 1:15, Luke 8:12, John 6:40, Ephesians 3:8-9, John 14:6)

But as James says in the passage above, Jesus gave us the example as he washed the disciples' feet. (John 13:1-17) He instructed us to serve people to show how much we love Him. His love for us overflows in our love for others so that the Father might be glorified. We don't go around doing a bunch of stuff so God will take notice of us but so others will take notice of God which means we must also speak up about why we do what we do. Never be ashamed to speak the name of Jesus and give Him the credit for who you are and what you are doing.

Theology Refresh: Francis Chan

Theology Refresh: Francis Chan

This is a great link from the Desiring God website which is John Piper's ministry. You can download the podcast to hear a 15 minute talk with David Mathis and Francis Chan on the sovereignty of God. David Mathis, who happens to be from my hometown, works for John Piper. Francis Chan is a speaker, author and former pastor of a church in California.

Understanding God's sovereignty is key to understanding all the issues of life that we all face and being able to KNOW that God is right there in the midst of it.

I hope you will take time to listen today.

Trials

"Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, when you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort..." James 1:2

Enveloped in trials of any sort. That sounds painful. That sounds overwhelming. And I do not know many who consider trials joyfully. Our first response is usually how do I get out of this or how do I make it go away or how do I solve this problem. That's because we look at our problems (our trials) from our perspective. We are hurting or afraid or discouraged or sad because we are in the midst of something we really can't do anything about.

But that just may be God's sole purpose in having us there in the first place...for us to give up control, to realize that we can do nothing, to make us rely on Jesus rather than ourselves. "Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing." James 1:3-4

The trials of life are meant to give me an unwavering faith in God. A faith that KNOWS He is watching over me. He is still my Father. He still loves me. He still cares for me. He wants me to have no holes in my faith, no doubts. He wants me to be perfectly and fully developed to the image of Christ.

Faith

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

This week my friend Patti Bailey died from the cancer that was diagnosed just a few months ago. I last spoke to her about 2 weeks ago. She was weak because she had just completed her first round chemo after a full series of radiation treatments but was still upbeat and expecting this treatment to provide a cure for her cancer. So to say I was shocked to get the call that she had died is an understatement.

However, because of the faith Patti had - and I share with her - she IS cured and in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ at this moment. Paul said, "for we walk by faith, not sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord." 2 Corinthians 5:7-8

So now Patti is at home with the Lord. She no longer suffers the pains of illness. She no longer wonders what it is like to see Jesus. She no longer ponders eternity; she is there. Do I have any actual proof? No, but I do have faith. And because of my faith, I believe even when I can not prove something is true. "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him." Hebrews 11:6  Patti has been rewarded with a home in heaven.

Do I believe I will see Patti again? Absolutely! And not only Patti but my mom and dad and brother and other family and friends who have gone before and are in the presence of Christ because they confessed Him as Lord. "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9

Forgiveness of Sins

Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins."  Hebrews 9:22

Many people find the cross of Jesus Christ offensive because of its cruelty and because of the thought of someone else being punished for my wrongdoing. But it was absolutely necessary.

When God gave the law to Moses, the requirements for animal sacrifice and the sprinkling of the blood was spelled out in great detail.(Leviticus 4) But before that, God required the Passover lamb be slain and the blood spread on the doorposts so that the death angel would recognize and spare God's people when He fulfilled His last plague so that Pharaoh would release the Israelites from slavery. (Exodus12:1-32)  But before that when Adam and Eve sinned against God and they recognized they were naked and were ashamed, God killed an animal to take away their shame by clothing them.(Genesis 3:1-21)

Jesus is called the Lamb of God, and His death for our salvation was planned from the beginning of time.(John 1:29; Revelation 7:10; John 10:18; Matthew 26:54; John 1:1-3,14;) So the cruelty of the cross was necessary to satisfy the wrath of God for the sins of the world. The shedding of blood was necessary to meet God's requirement for purification.

But it is God's great love and mercy that sent Jesus  - the perfect Lamb of God, without stain or blemish - to endure God's wrath for me.(Romans 5:8) God's wrath would destroy me in a nanosecond. And I certainly could never be good enough to save myself. So without Jesus, there is no hope. But God did not want to leave us without hope. He lavished His great love on us with the gift of His son.(Ephesians 2:11-13)

Hebrews 7:21-28

I love this passage from Hebrews. Just think about what God says here through this writer about Jesus, our high priest. And to top it all off God says I will not change my mind.

21. but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest forever.'"

22. This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.
23. The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office,
24. but he holds his priesthood permanently because he continues forever.
25. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
26. For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
27. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.
28. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.

It Is Impossible for God to Lie

God provided the Bible for us so that we could know more about Him and His interaction with mankind. The Bible is full of stories of God's faithfulness, His love, His provision, His salvation.

When we read of God's purposes and His actions on our behalf and fail to believe it, we, in essence, call God a liar. But the writer of Hebrews tells us in Hebrews 6:18 that "it is impossible for God to lie." Of course we see this in the Bible long before this letter was written.

We see it through out the Old Testament as God sends His word through the prophets. God speaks of salvation and judgement, birth and death, prosperity and famine. He names names and places and times and events and they all happen just as He said.

In New Testament times the people who encountered Jesus called Him Rabbi or teacher or prophet. But Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, the life. No one comes to the Father but by me." (John 14:6) Not one truth or some truth but THE truth. Something is either true or it's not. Jesus said I AM the truth. So, do I believe what He says or do I call Him a liar? And if I believe what He says, do I live it? Do I proclaim it?