On the Road to Salvation

Luke 19:41-44

 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.  For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side,  and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

As we move into the Resurrection Celebration (Easter season) may I draw your attention to not simply WHAT Jesus has made available but bring attention to WHY He made it available?

Jesus was heading into Jerusalem at the time He knew was right before He would be crucified.  I believe there is prophetic significance in these words He spoke, not just for Israel, but for all believers.

If we had known in this OUR DAY the things that would make for our peace!

As Christians, we are compassed about by the enemy who is always trying to trip us up.

We are to stand fast in the faith, as we also do not know the time of our visitation.  No man knows the day or the hour when Christ will return!

Historically at this time of year, there is a tendency to focus on WHAT took place and WHERE it took place and HOW it took place, so much so that we find a de-emphasis on WHY it took place.

We’ve shortened it to “for our salvation”.  But God has so much more He planned for us!

Colossians 1: 19-22

For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—

Our peace is through the blood of His Cross.  The purpose goes beyond “just” salvation.  God desires to reconcile His creation to Himself, and then present us HOLY, BLAMELESS and ABOVE REPROACH.

God intended that we would be filled with His Holy Spirit, and He would do the work through us.

Philippians 2:13

For it is God who works in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure.

The WHY?

Because it pleases Him.  He is the Creator and He can do as He pleases with His creation.

Personally, I am so grateful that I have a true and lively HOPE that goes beyond just what this world has to offer.  You do too, if you’ll believe and receive it.

As Jesus rode into Jerusalem all those years ago, the people covered the way with palm branches and praised Him, crying “Hosanna to God in the Highest.”

A great many of those people had no understanding of WHY, and were easily persuaded just a short week later to cry just as passionately,

“Crucify Him!  Crucify Him!”

Don’t you be one of those people blown about by every wind of doctrine and easily persuaded by others to go this away and that away.

Grab hold of the truth God is placing before you today and stand firm and steady in that HOPE.

Psalm 84:11 tells us,

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
The Lord will give grace and glory;
No good thing will He withhold
From those who walk uprightly.”

May you discover NO GOOD THING withheld from you as you walk in obedient submission to your Creator who Loves you.

The Easter season is just one more excellent time to take stock of your life, and examine your heart.  Have you felt the tugging of Gods gentle Holy Spirit calling you to consider His gift of salvation?

The message has never changed since John The Baptist proclaimed it triumphantly those many years ago.

Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand.