“For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus. And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News.”
(2 Timothy 9-10)-nlt-
Last night as I fell asleep, my mind was filled with the most horrific images and thoughts.
I had experienced tremendous refreshing in His presence throughout the entire evening leading up to bed time.
Most of the night was just one big glory session as great joy and laughter overtook me again and again and waves of His presence swept me up and into His heart.
The stark contrast with evil was shocking to my spirit and caused me to open my eyes, and gaze up at the ceiling in the dark and quiet of our bedroom.
Such a barrage of darkness is increasingly rare and would usually prompt a rebuke from me, the weilding of the sword of praise to put dark things to flight. Last night, however, I sensed the Spirit of God present to teach. I relaxed and the Lord opened my understanding. Please prayerfully consider the following words.
Consider the scope of your entire life, from childhood to this very moment, as you proceed.
Think about the most terrifying, demonic manifestation of evil your mind will allow you to consider. Pure horror. Paralyzing fear. Icy splashes of depravity raping innocence.
Think about the worst thing, the most agonizing thing you have endured at the hands of another, whether physically or emotionally. Allow yourself to feel the pain of that violation of your innermost self.
Think about the most virulent anger, the blinding hate induced revenge fantasies which you may never have allowed your mind to entertain.
Think about the most disgusting, agonizing and lonely death by disease you can imagine
NOW READ THESE WORDS AND UNDERSTAND BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD:
Everything you have considered in the last few moments was focused with exponential multiplication far exceeding our ability to even conceive of, upon Jesus as He hung on that Cross.
ALL horror and fear in every manifestation.
ALL wickedness and depravity in every form.
ALL injustice and hurt inflicted by one upon another.
ALL the emptiness of every hate filled thought and action.
ALL and every manifestation of sickness, disease and infirmity.
ALL decay and rotting of things putrefying by the power of death’s foul grip.
“What we do see is Jesus, who was given a position ‘a little lower than the angels’; and because he suffered death for us, he is now ‘crowned with glory and honor.’
Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone. God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory.
And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation. So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father.
That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.
For he said to God, ‘I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people.’
He also said, ‘I will put my trust in Him, that is, ‘I and the children God has given me.’
Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.
(Hebrews 2:9-14)
“It is finished.” ~Jesus Christ of Nazareth