This is a question I pose to myself as I do to you, my dear reader.
This picture is a clear and sobering reminder of what the Love of God accomplished at the cross….namely, the swallowing up of the Wrath of God—indeed, the hell—that I deserved. In this wrath-bearing, hell-extinguishing, rebel-reconciling death, the God who is Love manifests Himself to all who have eyes to see.
”In THIS is love, not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (wrath-absorbing sacrifice) for our sins.” – 1 John 4:10
From fullofeyes.com
This week my husband and I had the privilege of presenting to our couples’ group about “The God Who Saves” Bible study by Dr. Steve Lawson. In just three verses, the breadth and depth of theology and Biblical truths that Dr. Lawson could unpack is just astounding. Heartily recommend this study if you want to go deep into the Word.
One that really stood out for us was understanding even more the weight of what happened on the Cross, the propitiation done by Jesus to atone for our sins.
We may be used to hearing John 3:16 and can memorize it without effort, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
But do we truly understand the weight of this love? How much it cost God, and His Son Jesus?
The eternal damnation we all deserve as penalty for our sins–and no one, I tell you, no one is righteous among us humans not even one–the wrath of God the Father, this was bored by the perfect unblemished lamb of God, by Jesus Son of God Himself.
It is said that even more than the physical suffering, far greater is the spiritual suffering endured by Jesus in those three long hours on the Cross when He experienced the deep and agonizing loss from a broken fellowship with God the Father.
Where for eternity past there had been warm fellowship and a loving relationship, there was now only broken fellowship, a sense of deep and agonizing loss, a hopeless despair, and the blackness of depravity.
from RedeemingGod.com
Also try to imagine what the Father felt through this whole ordeal, seeing His very own Son suffer this way.
Can you even comprehend that?
No, right?
I don’t think anyone can completely wrap their heads around this.
Like who, in His sane mind, would sacrifice His own divine Son to pay for the penalty of the mankind They created? To save them, give them a second chance to be reunited with them in Heaven?
Crazy, right? But it’s the Truth.
That’s God’s Crazy, Reckless Love for us. For YOU and ME.
We are bound to hell—and admit it, you already feel that hell here on earth when you experience pain, rejection, sufferings–but God our Abba Father in His great love for us, designed a way to save us from this wretched life. Through His Son we are reconciled with our Almighty Creator, our Heavenly Father, and through Him, we can experience heaven right here on earth, in and through our sufferings. And He promises us heaven even after life on earth.
“Come! Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”
Revelation 22:17
This is a precious priceless gift offered free for you and me. And it wasn’t cheap. Like the hell it was not cheap. (pardon the language)
I pray that we all have eyes to see, and receive this free gift of Salvation. Before it’s too late.
P.S.
How do we know this is true?
That this is not just a fluke?
You may ask.
…because Jesus is Risen!
He is alive! Literally, and metaphorically. We know because there were witnesses. And their accounts are recorded and written in the Bible.
Just as God resurrected His Son from the dead, so can He resurrect your life and give you New Life, New Hope. If you will open your heart, believe, and let Him in. If you let Him guide your life, you can never ever go wrong.
For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord.
Proverbs 8:35
