Jesus wouldn't have temporarily come down from glory if nothing was wrong with the world. He took a body, similar to ours, to live in among us and then died for us that we might be saved. If God had been happy with what was going on, he wouldn't have needed to send Jesus to save us.
Our biggest sin just might be that we want control of everything. We struggle with giving up our trust in ourselves and putting that trust in God. We think we can run our own lives and many of us try to go it alone without God.
Millions of people pack into church every sabbath year around. Yet, seldom is heard a sermon on "repentance". These people do not grab hold of the idea that they need to truly regret acts of the past. When communion is served a quick prayer comes to their minds, but sadly the act of repenting leaves their minds quicker than the quick prayer entered their head.
If the world had been righteous, we wouldn't have had to have a visit from the king of glory. Jesus wouldn't have had to come to preach "repentance" and he wouldn't have had to buy our ticket to heaven.
Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice for our separation from God. We can now be forgiven for our sins. Jesus mission was "to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10 (NIV) Because of Adam's fall Jesus came to redeem the earth and to save mankind.
"He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him." John 1:11 What a terrible thing? Do you think that brought a tear to God's eye? Our father came to visit and nobody knew him. How would you feel if you visited your kids whom you love dearly and would do anything for them and they acted like they didn't know you. "He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him." John 1:10 (NIV) How sad!
Do you think that made God feel bad? What do you think about the fact that he can't tell you apart from the non-christian that lives next door to you? If you are Christ-like, you should be different. You take your family to church every time the door is open, but you haven't surrendered yourself to God.
God can get or have everything he wants except he can't make you surrender yourself to him. That is why your surrender is so sweet for him. Surrender to his love and embrace God's will for our lives. Be all you can be through him and become a benefit to the lives of others.
Jesus said in Matthew 4:10 (NIV), "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.' Serve him only is what it says, not serve yourself.
In Luke 9:23-24 (NIV), Jesus told his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."
Surrender yourself to God! "He must become greater; I must become less." That is what Jesus told us in John 3:30 (NIV)
Serving a Living God,
Rick Hawbaker
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