God's first children, Adam and Eve, had broken his heart. Led astray by the tempter, they had chosen to rebel and please themselves, rather than to live in loving fellowship with him. Seeking to recover his fallen race, the Father, with a humble heart, had bound himself to man with cords of love, offering himself and all that He had in covenant to his beloved. But man had not returned that love for his heart was hardened. Love of self had turned him to idols, sin and unbelief caused him continually to break the law of the covenant, thus to break faith with God. Separated from him God's beloved creation dwlet in darkness, bound by Satan, the deceiver, slaves to sin and under the penalty of death.
Hear the voice of the Father, travailing over the wayward and the lost, faithless children who have rejected his enduring love:
When Israel was a child I loved him as a son and brought him out of Egypt.
But the more I called to him, the more he rebelled, sacrificing to Baal and burning incense to idols.
I trained him from infancy, I taught him to walk, I held him in my arms. But he doesn't know or even care that it was I who raised him.1
I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lieft the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them.2
My people determined to turn from me.3
Though they call to the Most High
None at all exalt Him.4 Oh, how I give you up, my Ephraim? (a love name for Israel)
How can I let you go?5
My heart churns within Me.
My sympathy is stirred.6
As the Father is grieved over fallen humanity, He grieved over me. Hiding from him as Adam and Eve had done, I had escaped into a world of fantasy. To cover my low self-image I became proud and self-righteous, devoting myself to "good works." Though I wanted desperately to be loved I did not know how to give love. Putting selfish demands on others, including my husband, I remained unsatisfied, hurt, alone. Deep in my heart I was longing for my heavenly Father, for He had made me to be his own. Just as He called to fallen Adam and to the children of Israel the Father was calling me by name, speaking into the darkness and confusion of my mind, yearning to receive me just as I was, waiting for me to surrender to his love.
Have you, too, refused to recognize and respond to the great Lover who is calling you to himself? Do you really know him, have you ever thanked him for your birth and for his care? Is He Lord of your life, or are you vainly worshipping idols of self-achievement, possessions, or worldly pleasure? Has Satan, the god of his world, blinded and separated you from the Father, are you under the sentence of death for your sin? Truly, "it is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.7
Before the foundation of the world the Godhead had provided us a way of salvation. To his people the Father had pledged himself with his eternal covenant oath:
"Though the mountains be shaken and the hill be
removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,' says the Lord,
who has compassion on you.8 For I am God and not man;
I am the Holy One living among you, and I did not come
to destroy.9
In his own Person God would bridge the chasm between fallen man and a holy God. In Jesus Christ He would give himself as a perfect sacrifice to pay the price for man's redemption and remove forever the barrier of sin and death.10
I the Lord have called You, the Messiah, for a righteous
purpose and in righteousness;...I have given You for a
covenant to the people [Israel], for a light to the nations
(Gentiles). 11
Marvel at the singleness of heart and purpose within the Godhead, at the perfect obedience of the Son. Coming down freely from the glories of heaven, from the bosom of the Father, fully God, yet now fully man, He took on flesh and blood to become one of us.
Then I (Jesus) said, 'Behold I come. In the scroll of the
Book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O my
God, And your Law is within my heart.' 12
Blameless in his thirty-three years of life, Jesus of Nazareth did for us what we could never do for ourselves: He kept the law of the covenant. Through him our loving Father could show us mercy, while He, himself, remained holy and just. By dying in the place of sinners He could fulfill the penalty of the law that demanded our death. 13
Jesus Christ was the One the scapegoats and sacrificial lambs had prefigured, throughout all ages Jehovah had been preparing creation for him: "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"14
He committed no sin and no deceit was found in his mouth.
When he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he
entrusted himself to him who judges justly.15
His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man
and his form marred beyond human likeness. 16
Jesus cried,
Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my
sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath
afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger. 17
My god, my God, why have you forsaken me. 18
God the Father had turned away his face, for the sin of the whole world had invaded the body of his Son. Jesus had become sin for you and me.
All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned,
every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him
the iniquity of us all. 19
Let the awesome revelation of Calvary speak to your own heart: Jesus became sin for you when He bore God's wrath. His broken body, his shed blood have removed every barrier that separates you from God. Surrender yourself, your sorrowing heart to him, for you and I have nothing else to give him.
My sacrifice...is a broken spirit;...a contrite heart [broken
down with sorrow for sin and humbly and thoroughly
penitent] such, O God, you will not despise. 20
From the ruins of my life I came to Calvary. Lost, perishing, I had reached the end of myself. Bleeding emotionally in the darkness of my mind and in the confusion of sin I cried out to the One who had shed his blood for me. If He didn't answer I would take my life, for I could bear no more. As I surrendered myself Jesus snatched me from the grip of Satan. 21 He gave me forgiveness, reconciliation and healing, He freed me to live a totally new life in him. The cross is "foolishness to those who are perishing,"22 yet to those who embrace it and believe, it is "the power of God to salvation."23
Identify yourself by faith with Jesus Christ in his death and resurrection, bow at the foot of the cross. If you have never done so, simply say, "Almighty God, heavenly Father, I confess that I am a sinner, that I deserve to die. I have broken your commandments, I have rejected your love and I am helpless to save myself. Father, I am truly sorry. I repent and turn from my sin and from all that is past. Thank you for your goodness and mercy in sending your Son, thank you Jesus for shedding your blood to redeem me. Come into my heat to be my Lord and Savior. By faith in your Word I now receive forgiveness and cleansing and by grace I surrender in love and obedience to you. I pray in your Name. Amen."