I received a response to yesterday’s devotional from a dear sister in Christ named Carolyn that I just had to share part of with all of you:

    Sure a lot of things are not pleasant, and I know things are and will get worse – but why worry? I have the Lord, and He is ALL that matters! He knows! And if things get so bad that war breaks out or our country collapses or whatever else – Jesus still IS. He saved me. Maybe not saved my life for this life – but certainly for eternity, and that’s all that matters.

…and that’s all that matters.

Can you say that with such certainty as Carolyn did? Jesus saved me maybe not so much for this life, but for eternity.

After reading Carolyn’s email I now know why I awoke with a song running through my brain titled “Oh Glorious Day” which Casting Crowns recently released on their new CD and the magnificence of our salvation is captured in the first verse:

    One day when Heaven was filled with His praises
    One day when sin was as black as could be
    Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin
    Dwelt among men, my example is He
    Word became flesh and the light shined among us
    His glory revealed

God did not have to do that. Mankind had blown so many chances in the past; four thousand years worth of blown chances and yet Jesus still came. I would have waited for them to get their act together before I sent my one and only son. That is what blows me away about God. That’s why when I first read a verse in the Bible it literally stunned me:

    “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

That still makes the hair on my arm stand up; especially if I testify to what that verse is actually saying. The Apostle Paul is telling us that we don’t have to get our acts together before Jesus will save us. Many people say I need to get my life straight before I trust Christ. That’s a bad news/good news story. The bad news is that it will never happen; the good news is you don’t have to wait because Jesus died for you and me while we were yet sinners.

We don’t have to wait or do anything because Jesus is our substitute for the payment of sin. Romans 5:8 is a promise fulfilled; it is prophecy come to life in the bodily form of Jesus Christ. It was only a matter of time before Jesus would come forth and take our punishment for our sins:

    “Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up, and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.” (Psalm 69:9)

Even the crucifixion of Christ was the fulfillment of prophecy:

    “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

And through the Prophet Isaiah we could have predicted that Jesus’ substitutionary death would be satisfactory to the Heavenly Father:

    “He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities.” (Isaiah 53:11)

Jesus is God’s righteous, Suffering Servant who justified all those who freely repent of their sins and turn to Christ for salvation.

Jesus still IS. He saved me. Maybe not saved my life for this life – but certainly for eternity, and that’s all that matters.

…and that’s all that matters. Notice the chorus from the song “Oh Glorious Day”:

    Living, He loved me
    Dying, He saved me
    Buried, He carried my sins far away
    Rising, He justified freely forever
    One day He’s coming
    Oh glorious day, oh glorious day

One day He’s coming and it will be such a glorious day. Are you ready? He could come for His bride today.

    “He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20)

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

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    Copyright © 2010 David Jeffers

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