Series: Bridges
The Bible says: "Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?"(Job 11:7).No one has ever seen God. But many people have tried to imagine what He is like. This has led to a lot of different ideas about God. Some think He may be just an impersonal force. Others think He is "energy" that you can tap into. Still others think He's "out to get me", like a mean ogre, just waiting for you to do the wrong thing. But what is God really like?
The Bible tells us that Jesus was God coming to the earth as a human being, just like you and me.
"No one has ever seen God, but God the only Son, who is at the Father's side, has made him known" (John 1:18).This means that if we take a look at Jesus, we can discover what God is really like.
Jesus said: "...every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit...Thus, by their fruit you will recognise them" (Matthew 7:17-20).Jesus didn't just come to speak nice words. He came to get to the root cause of people's problems and to deal with the most basic problem of all - a broken relationship with God. He spoke some very strong words, especially against hypocrisy (putting on a religious front) and dead religion. He told us that it's not just outward appearances that God is interested in, but our heart - what's on the inside. Read Matthew 22:35-40. In this verse, what did Jesus say was the most important thing for us to do?
Jesus' whole message can be summed up in these words: "Repent for the kingdom of God is near!" (Matthew 4:17). What does "repent" mean? "Repent" means to change direction, to have a radical change in your thinking and lifestyle. This is what God is looking for in your life. Not just "being good", but having your life aligned with the plan God has for you. Not just "being religious", but being in a close, daily relationship with God. Not just your time on Sunday, but your whole life.
You cannot understand God unless you see both these parts. You cannot get to know God unless you take both God's love and God's holiness into account. God's love reaches out to you - He wants you to be in close relationship with Him. But God's holiness - His purity and goodness - cannot turn a blind eye to anything impure. The Bible tells us:
- Absolutely loving
- Absolutely holy
"No one is good - no one in all the world is innocent. No one has ever really followed God's paths, or even truly wanted to. Every one has turned away; all have gone wrong. No one anywhere has kept on doing what is right; not one...Yes, all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious ideal" (Romans 3:10-12,23 - Living Bible).What a problem God faced with you and me! Although God loved us with all His heart, we were cut off from Him by our own actions and attitudes. God's holiness demanded that we be brought to trial. God had to judge all that was impure in our lives or He would end up denying His own holiness.
But God is also absolutely wise. God set a plan into motion that would meet the demands of both His love and His holiness. That plan sent Jesus into the world - not just to tell you what to do, but to take your place. He was sentenced to die an agonising death on a Cross - but it was all for you. Jesus ransomed your life back to God.
Matthew 3:10 tells us: "The ax is already at the root of the trees..." Jesus came to be an ax that would chop off the real root of all your problems. Almost 2,000 years ago, Jesus was arrested, beaten and flogged, put through a mock trial, then taken away and crucified, executed like a common criminal. People nailed Him hand and foot to a wooden cross. But the Bible tells us something happened there on that Cross. An exchange took place. Everything you have ever done wrong was placed on Jesus as He hung upon the Cross. Instead of judging you, God judged Jesus on the Cross. Jesus died in your place, and broke the barrier between you and God.
Now, because of Jesus, you can have a close relationship with God every day. Jesus is your bridge. He took the punishment that you deserved. God counted Jesus' death to be your death, so that now, in God's eyes, you can walk free! Jesus came to give you a fresh new start, but this time with God in your life. It's like crossing a bridge from death into life!
Jesus said: "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life" (John 5:24).
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