|
THE BEST MOVE YOU'LL EVER MAKE
|
John Erickson
Eternal life. From the beginning man has yearned for it - because we're designed for it. Even if we're uncertain that there is such a thing, in the privacy of our hearts it somehow seems right. But why is it so mysterious? Why do our instincts lead us to things we can't find in the world around us?
There's something in the nature of life on earth that's very contrarian. A wedge separating life from death, man from God, earthly life from eternal life.
"You may eat of every tree in the garden. But you shall not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die." - Genesis 2:16-17
And it also carries over beyond this life:
And whoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. - Revelation 20:15
By opposing the God who created life, Adam violated life and his agreement with his lifegiver. By tempting him to do this, Satan got "joint custody" of Adam's share of God's provisions, including "dominion...over all the earth" (Genesis 1:26). Satan, the opponent of God the lifegiver, then brought death into the world.
"I [Jesus] am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and death." - Revelation 1:18
In saying this , Jesus proclaims his breaking of Satan's link to Adam's covenant with God, and those who stand with Jesus are delivered from it.
WORDS SEALED IN BLOOD
Between man and God, all laws governing existence are established by covenant:
In that day God made a covenant with Abram saying, "Unto your descendants I have given this land..." - Genesis 15:18
...an oath for confirmation puts an end to all argument. For God desired greatly to show the unchanging nature of his purpose... - Hebrews 6:16-17
Covenants, even among man, were made to be unbreakable throughout the lives of both parties. Blood was shed by all signatories and the resultant scar became a badge that warned everyone that if anyone messed with this person, there were 20 people behind him sworn to destroy his enemies.
...the blood is the life... - Duteronomy 12:23
This is why the blood of Jesus is key to man's reconciliation with God: A blood uncontaminated by the Curse was the only thing that could seal a covenant between man and God. Jesus stood in behalf of man, and any man who fully believes Jesus is the Anointed One ("Christ") sent by God can stand in that Covenant, taking on the rights and privileges stated therein as a covenant-partner with God - which includes eternal life.
I am the door: If any man enters by me, he shall be saved... I have come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly. - John 10:9, 10
Whoever believes in him [Jesus] shall not perish but have everlasting life. - John 3:16
"God loves you." Because western culture has abandoned the blood covenant, we don't have any idea of the meaning of covenant words. The Bible speaks of "faithfulness", "lovingkindness", and "love", and the only "love" we know about is romantic love, not covenant love. So we hear syrupy songs about God and hear people describe him in romantic, effeminate language. It sounds like God's going to show up on your doorstep with a bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolates.
COVENANT LOVE: Love between covenant partners means one will come to the other's aid regardless of how he feels about it at the time. Fulfilling the terms is the highest priority in life: "Faithfulness". Those covenant partners can plan their lives depending on the other's fulfilling the provisions of their covenant, as they've sworn their lives on it. It is unchangeable. That's what all the "love" terminology in the Bible is referring to. That's the nature of God's love.
A GOOD TIME TO ACT
Times are changing, and most people who take the Bible seriously believe we are near the end of this Age. Statements in Revelation and in Old Testament prophesies become clearer in meaning with each passing day:
And great earthquakes shall be in various places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. - Luke 21:11
Earthquakes, extreme weather, epidemics and astronomic disturbances (e.g., comets) are occurring with greater frequency every year.
And he [the antichrist] was given authority over every people, language and nation. - Revelation 13:7
The U.N. now has authority over essentially every nations' armed forces, which could be used to establish a single government worldwide.
And he caused all, small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands, or in their foreheads: And that no man could buy or sell unless he had the mark... - Revelation 13:16-17
Debit cards are taken almost everywhere. The information contained on the card's magnetic strip can now be placed on an implanted chip under the skin.
The "wrath of God" is the culmination of God's destruction of the curse. But the Believer's deliverance from this wrath is foretold:
Therefore, always watch and pray so that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man. - Luke 21:36
God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One.
And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, that is, Jesus, who has delivered us from the wrath to come. - 1 Thessalonians 1:10
This looks like a good time to give some thought to where we stand with God. Whether or not these are the earth's last days, our life here is our "last days" on the earth. Eternal life was intended for man from the beginning. We can reclaim it by entering into the covenant established by Jesus, and holding firm to it while in the midst of the world's deceptions.
© John Erickson