Jesus, The Everlasting Beacon Of Light And Hope And Peace - Part 2420

JESUS said that if He were to be lifted up (crucified) He would draw all men and women to Himself! There are choruses such as the one that follows that further elaborates on this point.

When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died

My richest gain I count but loss and pour contempt on all my pride

Forbid it, Lord that I should boast. Save in the death of Christ my God!

All the vain things that charm me most. I sacrifice them to His blood

See from His head, His hands, His feet. Sorrow and love flow mingled down!

Did e'r such love and sorrow meet or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine that were an offering far to small

Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all!

Just as the chorus suggests, the redemption of all mankind is not dependant upon fallen man’s capability to redeem him or herself, although in their respective sin prone mind they might think they can. But man’s life is likened in the scriptures to a boat without a rudder. Adrift in an ocean, and totally at the mercy of tides and wind -- which of themselves can be merciless! Maintaining a stiff upper lip, while noteworthy is in such cases similar to burying one's head in sand. The reality is that apart from the intervention of another, all things will inadvertently remain constant. But this is where the good news begins.

With God’s intervention there is hope eternal. How doe we know? Even the winds and the sea obey His voice! The question is this. How can one believe in God if they have not heard of God? And even supposed they were to believe that there was a God, how would that change their personal circumstances, for even the devil believes that there is one God.

Further, religion talks about God as if religious institutions were beacons of light. As we all see, religions erect buildings and some of them fill these buildings with their vain imaginations. This is what the scriptures say. They fill their buildings with images and relics, dead lifeless things that are totally useless! Indeed, they are as useless as a straw is to a drowning person who in desperation grabs at the straw. God has said, "Heaven is my throne and earth my footstool and you are building a house for me. Are you yet without understanding?" God does not live in buildings made with man’s hands.

Rather, God who is one Spirit has revealed His pure spiritual humanity in the face of the man JESUS. This same Jesus who is the Lord Himself declared that all of these efforts to build buildings and religious institutions are nothing more than sinking sand. When JESUS speaks, it is His holy Spirit message being spoken through the vocal cords of the man JESUS. How do we know? Well, JESUS equals God’s Word. These are not the Words of another.

The Holy Ghost declares that men are worshiping Him in vain! They are deceivers, asserting that they know Jesus but they do not. Men who have discarded His Word, substituting their own version of erroneous false teachings in its place. Indeed, many practice a form of worship patterned after man’s wisdom -- which wisdom in God’s eyes is foolishness! In this same context, many of the same foolish pagan religions that date back to 300/400 AD can be likened to the Roman soldiers at the cross dividing JESUS' garment amongst themselves. Still, the Word of the LORD went forth from Jerusalem. Keep that thought! And receive God's Word today!

Stand in the offering plate.

(Written by William (Bill) McKendrick)