A Savior for the ignorant

Friends,

Although I'm not a lawyer, I've been told that it is well-known legal principle that ignorance of the law is no excuse. Not knowing that an activity is illegal may reduce the severity of the punishment, but it will never remove guilt. That is why all men are accountable for obedience to God's Law:

Leviticus 5:17 (NKVJ)
If a person sins, and commits any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD, though he does not know it, yet he is guilty and shall bear his iniquity.

For this reason, every man needs the saving grace provided by Christ. We cannot ignore those who may not have been taught the laws of God thinking that their ignorance will be sufficient to save them. The wages of sin ... all sin ... is death. And the redemptive power of Jesus is the only way to overcome that just and righteous penalty.

Be encouraged, Jose

Keeping a promise

Friends,

It happens so often.

Things work out, but not quite the way you expected them to. In the end, the desired result is achieved, but the path you took was far different from the one you had planned.

Mark 14:31 (NKJV)
But [Peter] spoke more vehemently, “If I have to die with You, I will not deny You!”
And they all said likewise.

Of course, we all know the familiar story of Peter's inability to resist denying that he knew Jesus. We know that Christ brought Peter back to Himself after His resurrection, and that Peter went on to be used by the Lord for great and far-reaching work.

In the end, Peter was executed for His steadfast refusal to disobey Jesus. But he did not accomplish this on his own. When he utilized his own strength to accomplish his own plans, he failed spectacularly.

But when the Lord directed Peter's steps, the fragility and limits of his strength were rendered irrelevant. And the Lord demonstrated, in spectacular fashion, His faithfulness to accomplish what He begins.

Be encouraged, Jose

Answers to big questions

Friends,

Sometimes, when we can rise above the course of daily events, men and women have important and far-reaching questions. These kinds of questions take time and meditation to answer adequately. They require imagination, creativity, and an open heart.

Does our God truly have the capacity to redeem this fallen soul?
Is the LORD able to overcome the massive evil that is our sin?

Big questions like these are nothing new.

Isaiah 50:2a
Why, when I came, was there no man?
Why, when I called, was there none to answer?
Is My hand shortened at all that it cannot redeem?
Or have I no power to deliver?

Of course, we do not need to search far for the answers to these questions ...

Isaiah 50:2b
Indeed with My rebuke I dry up the sea,
I make the rivers a wilderness;
Their fish stink because there is no water,
And die of thirst. [NKJV]

Almighty God truly does have the full and limitless power to dry up the seas. He can do this with one word. He can darken the sun, calm the seas, raise the dead, give sight to the blind.

He does all these things ... and nothing can stop Him from redeeming His elect people.

Be encouraged, Jose

He made Himself ready

Friends,

You have no doubt heard the expression, "Take the bull its horns." I wonder ... has any really tried to do so? I can't imagine that the bull would stand idly while a man takes hold of his horns. I can't imagine that such an action would end well for the man foolish enough to actually try it.

Genesis 22:13
Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. [NKJV]

Picture this scene in your mind. Under natural circumstances, would a wild ram stand still while his horns were tangled in a little bush? Of course a ram is not as powerful as a bull, but a desert shrub is certainly no match for a ram being held "against his will."

But then, we are not talking about natural circumstances are we? Rather we are looking at a sacrifice, sent by Almighty God, perfectly obedient, and completely prepared to lay down and die for the sake of one who is far from innocent.

Sound familiar?

Christ Jesus was not murdered.
He was not forced to stay on the cross by any man.
Even those nails were no match for His sovereign power and might.

He went ... willing and obediently ... to the cross. He did so out of love for His Father. He did so out of love for you and for me. He spent His whole life making Himself ready to be the One who redeemed us with His blood.

Our gratitude and ceaseless praise is the very least we can offer. Why not start right now!

Be encouraged, Jose

Once and for all

Friends,

Modern Jews are observing Yom Kippur today, marking their remembrance of the day of atonement. In the desert, the LORD told His people that, when they crossed into their land, they would follow this ritual to remind them that only God is capable of fulfilling all of the precepts of the Law.

And Aaron shall make atonement upon its horns once a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonement; once a year he shall make atonement upon it throughout your generations. It is most holy to the LORD.
Exodus 30:10 [NKJV]

The death of this animal foreshadows the death of the Messiah. Christ's death made atonement for our sins.

There is a difference, however. Christ died once and conquered death for all time. Since He conquered it, death can never again be used against Him. This turns His death into a triumphant event. For by it, the sins of His people are atoned for ... once and for all time.

Be encouraged, Jose

A really good day

Friends,

A few years back, a gentleman with whom I was working was moping about the office. I asked him what was wrong, and he told how sad it was that Jesus was killed on this day. He went on to explain how unfortunate it was that such a brave and compassionate man was killed just for standing up for his beliefs. He couldn't understand why people call it "Good Friday."

John 12:24 [NKJV]
Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.

Christ had several opportunities to turn off the path that led Him to Calvary. His life and work had been accepted by the Father, who declared that He was well pleased with His Beloved Son. He could have called down legions of angels to remove Him from the cross and transport Him back to His Father. Christ fulfilled the complete law, and is the only man to have earned a place in Heaven. He could have returned to His place of glory, but He would have gone alone.

But that is not what He wants.

He wants you and me to be with Him for all eternity. And to accomplish that, He accepted the full wrath of Almighty God. He endured it all.

And because He did, we will not. And that is very good.

Be encouraged, Jose

My Redeemer lives

“Look, I go forward, but He is not there, and backward, but I cannot perceive Him; When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him; When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him. But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
Job 23:8-10 (NKJV)

A lifetime summary is a synopsis of the beginning, mid and end of the exploits of someone. This summary gives a detailed and full perspective view of the entire history of the person and not just part of it. The story and summary of Job was almost defined by his worst season when he lost all he had. But he (Job) never succumbed to the limited and transient challenging moment of his life, neither did he base his next life's decision based on the tragic turn of events in his life.

For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth;
Job 19:25 (NKJV)

In a season, it may be hard to perceive the presence of the Creator in some of our circumstances and situations. We must refused to be defined by just our present circumstances. Our life is in God's hands. Even though we may not see or feel Him like Job, we know after he has tested us, we shall come forth as gold.

Be encouraged,

Afolabi