My story will never be one of a life well lived, but of a pure and holy Life that has lived well in me. From the Springs of Everlasting Life I have gained immortality through Jesus Christ; having exchanged a mere fraction of time that is bound up in this world for a crown of glory that will never fade away…
In that day the LORD of hosts will be a crown of glory, and a diadem of beauty, to the remnant of his people, and a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate. Isaiah 28:5+6
“That day” being the great day when our faith is made sight and the Glory of God is revealed through Christ Jesus the Lord. Even though the above passage is in reference to the people of Israel — there was a greater audience that were destined to hear and believe it even before they were born. It’s true for most of the Old Testament that those things that were written were for us, so that when Christ came in the fullness of time, we who would come after, would not be ignorant of the plan that would be fulfilled in us by His word to those who ministered it to us without even knowing it…
Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into. 1 Peter 1:10-12
This is important for us to understand because without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). We must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. How can we believe something told to us without a foundation to reference which validates the messengers as being as reliable as the source of the message? Those who received it first sent it to us by the hands of faithful people who also believed through their word. God took great care to ensure our faith and hope has a strong and accurate backing. Jesus was and is the foundation on which all the past, present, and future is built. He is the reference point to which all that has been written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit converges into what we now know as the saving Love of God!
Picture this: you have an important sealed letter that contains a million dollar check folded inside with the “pay to the order of” line left blank. It is addressed to a specific recipient that you love and want to bless, but only if upon receiving the letter they read it, believe what is written, and accept the generous gift (by filling in their name and cashing it). Would you find a stranger on the street to deliver it for you? Would you give the task to a smooth talking person who you’ve only just met? Of course not! You would entrust it to the post office or special couriers to deliver it first-class. You would do this because these organizations have backing by years of successful deliveries that have led to both parties being satisfied enough to trust the process again and again!
God hand delivered a love letter through couriers who came before us — who opened the letter as the first recipients and received the same gift! God is both the sender and the Post Master. You can’t get any more reliable than that! He had people pass it on from generation to generation who had experienced His salvation through the sufferings of Christ with all the backing of His Holy Spirit — so that when His glory appears, we may also be glad with exceeding joy (1 Peter 4:13). God will never allow His faithfulness and long-suffering to be tarnished by laziness or dishonest gain. That is why the Word of God has stood the test of time and will endure forever. Even if the message is held by unfaithful and unreliable people, His Word will always find the pathway to the broken and contrite heart — the life led by the Spirit of God…
For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:10+11
He has sent it for our sake who believe, by faith, in Christ. You don’t have to work for God’s gift any more than water has to work when flowing down a mountain. There may be obstructions and twists, dams that slow progress, or murky confluences that are confusing. Whatever the path — God is with you! He is as reliable as He has always been. When you wake up tomorrow, if the sun is shining, remember that it is the same sun that God made to stand still for the Children of Israel in the battle thousands of years ago (Joshua 10:13). When you look at the faces of children today, remember the hands of the Patriarch Jacob (Israel) as he lay dying, that were placed on the young children Ephraim and Manasseh thousands of years ago to bless them and their seed after. There are so many faithful people who have been before us who validated the Divine Long-suffering and faithfulness of our God to save…
And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again.
Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trials of mocking and scourging, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us. Hebrews 11:32-40
And so we should always bare the mark of men and women who partake of the sufferings of Christ and will share in His glory when He is revealed as the King of kings and Lord of lords. Blessings to you!
