I stood on the brink of eternity, looking o’er the past. Chills raced down my spine as I watched the world form from a single word. Perfect and beautiful, unmarred by sin. Then, the scene changed. With awful solemnity I beheld a woman reach towards an enticing fruit.
“No!” I shouted, shutting my eyes. With horror I watched the consequences of disobedience. Driven from the garden and into Satan’s dominion. The flowers were replaced by thorns, and
the submissive, kind beasts for vicious carnivores. Tears welled in my eyes as I watched an innocent lamb die by man’s own hand. It wasn’t fair. But then, I remembered, this was Satan’s way. Death and misery.
I stood transfixed on Moriah’s summit, as a knife was held high above a submissive human sacrifice. I cringed, waiting for it to be plunged into the heart of the victim, but a heavenly being stepped forward, stopping the knife. I shuddered as the angel of death arose and slew the firstborn, not protected by the symbol of the blood on the doorposts.
Again, the scene changed .I trembled in awe as the heavens shook at the voice of God, declaring His perfect character through the commandments. Joining the crowd, I knelt and felt His presence near as the magnificent temple was dedicated to the Lord.
Once more my view changed. A heavenly figure stepped into the presence of God three times, before turning and leaving heaven’s gates behind. I watched with astonishment as He was born in a stable as a helpless babe. On the banks of the Jordan, I heard God’s voice resound through the clouds, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Suddenly, I saw the soldiers press a crown of thorns into His brow and mock Him. I wept as He fainted from exhaustion and pain. I saw Him hang from the tree bearing the awful weight of the world’s sins upon His shoulders. Then I heard the jubilant cry, “It is finished!”
And then I stood at the tomb as He arose triumphant and ascended to heaven.
Again my scene changed. From the crowded gladiator seats, I witnessed an old man pledge allegiance to God and God alone before a haughty emperor who then ordered a cruel execution. Next, a young woman spoke, looking upward, but not breathing. I listened with interest as she told of her vision I had read about years ago. It was about a group of people travelling along a narrow road towards heaven. Many gave up and fell off the precipice, but some persisted and made it to the pearly gates. Oh, I hoped that I was one of those…
Once more, my scene changed. I saw a human being slowly drawn away from God. I watched for along time, amazed at how they continued to sin, causing Jesus to weep, causing the nails to once more pierce His hands. How could they resist His gentle voice and turn away! The cares of the sin-polluted world were tugging at them and winning. Suddenly, I recognized the weak human. It was me. With horror I heard a trumpet sound and watched the sky illuminate and I ran in desperation, calling for the rocks to fall on me. Once more I saw myself, this time before God’s judgement seat. I knew I wasn’t covered by His blood. I hung my head as the final judgement pass, “I never knew you. Depart from me, you that work iniquity.”
Weeping aloud, I sank to my knees. But then I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up into the kind face of an angel.
“Rise, my child, and look again!”
Obeying, it seemed to start all over again. Again, I witnessed the creation and the struggle in the perfect garden. Again, I witnessed the struggle on Moriah’s peak. Again, I witnessed the struggle on Calvary’s cross. And again, I saw myself. But this time, my sins were no more. I was clothed in His righteousness, I was covered with His blood, and in place of my filthy self, was an image of Him.
Again, I stood at the judgement seat, this time erect and confident. Again I heard my Savior’s voice. But this time, my sentence was vastly different. “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” He had taken my place on the cross of Calvary, and I had taken His place as a child of the King.
“No!” I shouted, shutting my eyes. With horror I watched the consequences of disobedience. Driven from the garden and into Satan’s dominion. The flowers were replaced by thorns, and
the submissive, kind beasts for vicious carnivores. Tears welled in my eyes as I watched an innocent lamb die by man’s own hand. It wasn’t fair. But then, I remembered, this was Satan’s way. Death and misery.
I stood transfixed on Moriah’s summit, as a knife was held high above a submissive human sacrifice. I cringed, waiting for it to be plunged into the heart of the victim, but a heavenly being stepped forward, stopping the knife. I shuddered as the angel of death arose and slew the firstborn, not protected by the symbol of the blood on the doorposts.
Again, the scene changed .I trembled in awe as the heavens shook at the voice of God, declaring His perfect character through the commandments. Joining the crowd, I knelt and felt His presence near as the magnificent temple was dedicated to the Lord.
Once more my view changed. A heavenly figure stepped into the presence of God three times, before turning and leaving heaven’s gates behind. I watched with astonishment as He was born in a stable as a helpless babe. On the banks of the Jordan, I heard God’s voice resound through the clouds, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Suddenly, I saw the soldiers press a crown of thorns into His brow and mock Him. I wept as He fainted from exhaustion and pain. I saw Him hang from the tree bearing the awful weight of the world’s sins upon His shoulders. Then I heard the jubilant cry, “It is finished!”
And then I stood at the tomb as He arose triumphant and ascended to heaven.
Again my scene changed. From the crowded gladiator seats, I witnessed an old man pledge allegiance to God and God alone before a haughty emperor who then ordered a cruel execution. Next, a young woman spoke, looking upward, but not breathing. I listened with interest as she told of her vision I had read about years ago. It was about a group of people travelling along a narrow road towards heaven. Many gave up and fell off the precipice, but some persisted and made it to the pearly gates. Oh, I hoped that I was one of those…
Once more, my scene changed. I saw a human being slowly drawn away from God. I watched for along time, amazed at how they continued to sin, causing Jesus to weep, causing the nails to once more pierce His hands. How could they resist His gentle voice and turn away! The cares of the sin-polluted world were tugging at them and winning. Suddenly, I recognized the weak human. It was me. With horror I heard a trumpet sound and watched the sky illuminate and I ran in desperation, calling for the rocks to fall on me. Once more I saw myself, this time before God’s judgement seat. I knew I wasn’t covered by His blood. I hung my head as the final judgement pass, “I never knew you. Depart from me, you that work iniquity.”
Weeping aloud, I sank to my knees. But then I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked up into the kind face of an angel.
“Rise, my child, and look again!”
Obeying, it seemed to start all over again. Again, I witnessed the creation and the struggle in the perfect garden. Again, I witnessed the struggle on Moriah’s peak. Again, I witnessed the struggle on Calvary’s cross. And again, I saw myself. But this time, my sins were no more. I was clothed in His righteousness, I was covered with His blood, and in place of my filthy self, was an image of Him.
Again, I stood at the judgement seat, this time erect and confident. Again I heard my Savior’s voice. But this time, my sentence was vastly different. “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.” He had taken my place on the cross of Calvary, and I had taken His place as a child of the King.
Comments
Post a Comment
Please keep your comments/questions uplifting, without the use of any slang or swear words.