A TIME OF REFLECTION

CREATION CALLS - ARE YOU LISTENING?

Romans1:19-20

Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

A Time Of Reflection
Each year as Easter draws near we prepare for the celebration of the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. The Sunday services in the weeks preceding Easter are usually filled with messages of the suffering Jesus endured in order to secure our salvation, culminating in an evangelistic message, lifting our spirits with faith in the completed work of Jesus Christ in his death, burial and resurrection.

This year more than any other I can remember, my thoughts turned again and again to the grueling death He suffered. With each morbid reflection I became more and more burdened. The wrenching betrayal, the hateful personal insults and ridicule, questionings beyond understanding, Pilate's "No fault in this man" verdict that incomprehensibly resulted in a death sentence, the physical torture suffered with each striking blow, the slow torment of crucifixion until death.

The evening service message was called "Learning to do what you don't want to do." It's focus was on Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Seem an unlikely message to reveal an even more tragic event?

Knowing in advance the events that are about to unfold, Jesus prayerfully asks God to "Let this cup pass from me". It was the terrible surrender of death he was asking to be released from, wasn't it?

Those final moments on the cross when Jesus cried "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME", not because he was physically suffering, but because for that moment of time when Jesus took on all our sins, securing our salvation, he experienced the wrath of God. For that moment in time Jesus was completely severed from God.

I thought my heart was about to stop! How could I have never known that before?

Jesus, completely God and completely man, experienced complete abandonment in that moment, more terrifying than death, total despair!

Fear: Separation from God!

No fear in suffering, death!

2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.