MY FRIENDS, ARE WE WITHIN REACH?

Aug. 23, 2017

MY FRIENDS, ARE WE WITHIN REACH?

It was not the dread of death that weighed upon Christ. It was not the pain and ignominy of the cross that caused His inexpressible agony. Christ was the prince of sufferers; but His suffering was from a sense of the malignity of sin, a knowledge that through familiarity with evil, man had become blinded to its enormity.

Christ saw how deep is the hold of sin upon the human heart, how few would be willing to break from its power. He knew that without help from God, humanity must perish, and He saw multitudes perishing within reach of abundant help.”(E. G. White) My friends, it must become personal today because every child of God must accept the fact that we are within reach of abundant help, but we are also within reach of loosing it all.

Therefore today we must all stand at the foot of the cross all on different journeys but all within reach and see the Son of God with outstretched hands  and behold Him. Behold the one who gave it all for our Salvation. And today, at this moment we become part of the crowd, all witnesses, all within reach, all with choices to make.

And all with the same opportunity to allow the “word that was made flesh to penetrate our heart as far as the division of the soul both joints and marrow to the deepest parts of our nature while exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of each of our hearts,” as we look up and like the centurion, and they that were with him………who cried out, truly this is the Son of God. Heb. 4:12 (KJV), Matt. 27:54 (KJV), Paraphrase

Yes my friends, it’s personal because we now realize we are within reach which tells us we are also “Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Gal. 3:29 (NIV) But also there’s Judas, he was within reach for over three years and today we must ask, which one of us represent him who betrayed the Son of man with a kiss.

He had become blinded by the enormity of greed up to this point, “but with a kiss” “Infinite righteousness and infinite wisdom had resolved to leave him alone.” Such a small gesture to seal one’s fate and place Him in the monstrous category with the likes of Caiaphas, “it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.” And Pilate, “Whom should I release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?

And the Rabble who cried “Away with this man, and release for us Barabbas!” Who was a murderer and a thief. And “Herod and his soldiers who ridiculed and mocked Christ. Dressing him in an elegant robe, as if some freak at a side-show circus. All within reach all with the same opportunity for salvation. But as the Spirit searched to probe their evil heart and show the love and grace of the one they were about to crucify, they walk away all sealing their destiny.

My friends, where do we stand at the crossroads? We are within reach. Christ sees how deep is the hold of sin upon our heart. But, are we willing to break from it’s power by allowing the Spirit of God to transform our Character into the likeness and image of Christ who died for our sins. Or have we become blinded by the enormity of sin and decided the commitment is to great.