Because of Calvary: Life and that More Abundantly!

Today was Good Friday. In previous years – I can remember going to church from 12 unto 3 listening to the Seven Last Words, even having the privilege to have one of those words to preach myself. It is important to take a look back to remember that Christ went to Calvary, to be beaten and nailed to a cross for a debt that He did not owe. The greatest part of this love story of redemption is that God Himself wrapped Himself in human flesh, came to earth as a baby, grew to be a man, lived a sinless life, though “He was tempted in all points, as are we” (Hebrews 4:15), but He came through every test without sin!

1 John 3:1 (NIV) declares:

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”

When I became a Christian, I had listened very intently for nearly a year to testimonies that I did not understand, wondering what they were really talking about. I scrutinized from head to toe and with as much x-ray vision as I could muster, every person who claimed to be a Christian – I was a skeptic – (although I fancied calling myself an intellectual) – I could not believe that just believing in Jesus would do all the things that people claimed believing in Him would do. Continuing reading in 1 John 3, vs 2 are the words:

“Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. “

This statement is not only true for our transition to heaven – it’s true right here, right now! The unbeliever cannot even imagine in their wildest dreams the wonder they will find if they cross the path over from death unto life. How do you tell a dead man he can live again? How can you describe what “joy unspeakable and full of glory” means. How can you tell someone that they can have “peace that passes all man’s understanding?” How can you tell someone who doesn’t have faith that miracles still happen, that God reallly does make a way out of no way! How can you really convey to someone that you can pray a prayer to your God in the midnight hour and find that before morning someone comes to you with the very answer to that prayer! How can you tell someone really that:

“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother.” 1 John 3:8-10, (NIV)

Yes, people can testify of loving the unloveable, and losing a taste for alcohol, or drugs; they can say that they don’t want to go to the clubs anymore – they have a desire now to be in church – yes – people can testify – but the unbeliever will never really know – until He makes that confession of faith and begins to live – really live – and find that in Christ is not only life, but that more abundantly! But how will they even want to know, unless we continue to tell?

God Bless You,
Maria