THE GREAT EXCHANGE!

 

Do you remember your elementary school days, when you exchanged lunch with other kids? You ate their lunch and they ate yours, and you were both full and happy.  During an exchange, each party ends up with something that wasn’t originally theirs. And what they get back is often more satisfying!

 In the GREAT EXCHANGE, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is trading His place with mankind; He is taking on the sin of man, and man is taking on His righteousness.  You might be wondering, “What kind of satisfaction or benefit can Jesus really get from taking on the sin of man?” That’s a good question. God chose Jesus to be our sin-bearer out of love for us, and bearing our sins restores our relationship with God (see John 3:16). Jesus is satisfied with this exchange for at least two reasons: one, He gets to show love, respect, and obedience to the Father, and two, He gets to be part of our redemption, thus becoming our older brother!

 What Jesus gave in exchange for our sins was His very life, kingship, authority, power, and beauty. That was a lot to give up to rescue wretched sinners like us. Think about it: how many kings who have the power to command angels (servants) would allow themselves to go through the kind of ordeal Jesus went through? For instance, when Jesus was arrested in the garden, one of His disciples pulled out his sword and cut off the ear of the high priest’s slave, in an attempt to defend Jesus. You’d think Jesus would be grateful and happy that His friends were loyally defending Him. But no! Instead, He rebuked that disciple, “Put away your sword, … Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? But if I did, how would the scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?” (Matthew 26:52-54) What an expensive exchange! Jesus was determined to please the Father and redeem us through this exchange, no matter the cost.

What do we wretched sinners get from the exchange? Jesus took on the punishment for our sins, and we took on His righteousness! But what does that mean? In order for God’s justice to be satisfied, the sinner has to be punished. Jesus took on that punishment so that anyone who believes and accepts Him is forgiven and is clothed with Jesus’ righteousness. And for that, the Scriptures say: “To all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn-not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God” (John 1:12-13). To confirm this exchange, God sent the Holy Spirit to live in our hearts: “Because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, ‘Abba, Father. Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir’” (Galatians 4:6-7). Oh, what an exchange! Our sins are gone, and now God sees only the righteousness of His Son. Oh, what joy!

With our sonship comes inheritance, because after all, inheritance is one of the benefits of sonship. So, what’s our inheritance? Firstly, the Holy Spirit is the guarantee for our future. In other words, if you are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, you are a child of God and your inheritance is sealed. Secondly, our inheritance is waiting for us in heaven as Peter tells us: “We live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance-an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay” (1 Peter 1:4).   

This is exciting: the best exchange ever! Our sins are gone, and we look forward to the joys of heaven. The best part will be seeing Jesus face-to-face, and bowing at His knee in worship! This will be amazing. And then we’ll get to participate in all the activities of heaven. First and foremost, there’ll be no tears, pain, misery, mourning, or anything negative. Our inheritance is safe and secure; nobody will ever take it away from us. It will be so safe, there’ll be no need to close doors or gates. We’ll be with each other as we worship the Father and Son.

What will heaven itself look like? It won’t be like anything we’ve seen before. The gates are made of pearls, the streets are of gold, and there’ll be no need for the sun or moon to shine because our heavenly Father lights up the place.. Then there’ll be that amazing throne with God on it and Jesus sitting beside Him. Can you imagine? What an exchange, what an exchange! We are on the winning side! This indeed is a great exchange!

Dear reader, do you have this hope that I’m sharing? Please don’t choose anything else over this. Nothing in this world or in hell in the future could be better. Imagine yourself in misery in hell, and then imagine yourself in heaven with God. Which existence would you prefer? I encourage you to choose wisely; your eternal future depends on the choice you make today. If you prefer to be in heaven, repent of your sins, ask God for forgiveness through Jesus Christ, and you will be saved. The Holy Spirit in your heart will teach you how to live by obeying the Word of God.

Participate in the great exchange, and you will be set for life and beyond!      

DON’T MISS THE WEDDING SUPPER!

 

Have you ever missed a family or friend’s wedding reception, either because you were not invited or you were unavailable to attend? If so, how did you feel after you saw the pictures and heard the details of the celebration? The details probably included food that was out of this world, beautiful music, dancing, and the presence of attendees you’d have loved to see. You probably regretted not being there. 

When you miss a friend or family member’s celebration, you can send presents and good wishes later. As disappointing as not attending could be, it won’t be the end of the world, but missing the wedding feast I’m talking about will definitely be your worst loss, because you lose a whole lot more than just food, drink, and dancing! You lose being in the presence of God in heaven. As if that won’t be a loss enough, you’ll be spending time with the devil. So, you can see this will be one wedding feast you cannot afford to miss!

I’m sure you’re thinking, “This doesn’t sound like an ordinary celebration. Who is the couple?” Yes, you are right, it is not an ordinary celebration; Jesus is the Groom, and the bride is His Church! The Church is not a building; it is the collection of believers (see Ephesians 1:23). Are you a believer in Jesus Christ? If you’re not part of the Church, you are not included in the body of Christ, His bride. Had the feast happened yesterday, you would not have been a part of it. 

Thank God, He is waiting for you to come to be part of His church; He does not want anyone, including you, to perish: “He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed but wants everyone to repent” (2 Peter 3:9). Be aware, however, that He can only wait for so long. You need to decide today; tomorrow might be too late! The Scripture says, “But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief” (2 Peter 3:10).  Also, no one knows when their life will end.  

I hope by now you’re asking, “How do I become part of the Church?” Let’s start from the beginning. The Bible says we are all sinners, deserving of God’s judgment. This is what the Scriptures say to the Christians in Ephesus, “Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God” (Ephesians 2:1-2). So, you see, you are a sinner, but Jesus, in love and obedience to the Father, took our place and endured God’s judgment for our sin by dying on the cross. If we confess our sins to Him and ask for forgiveness, He forgives and indwells us through the Holy Spirit. This makes us His Children individually, and collectively His Body, His Church, and someday in heaven, His Bride. Amen!

If you miss the opportunity to be His child, and are therefore outside His Body, you will never be in heaven, and therefore won’t be at the wedding. Do you know where you’d be instead? I hate to think about that, and I don’t say it lightly, but the truth is you’ll be in hell, with the devil and his demons (see Matthew 25:41).

There’s no reason why you should go there if you don’t want to. You have a choice to make between God and the devil. I’ve shown you what to do; do it and allow the Holy Spirit to transform you through the Scriptures, prayers, and fellowship with other believers. This is how you are going to grow in your relationship with God, and someday, with all other believers, be the bride of Christ. We will not miss the feast because we, the bride, will have to be there. It will be our day! Hallelujah!      

 

All quotes are from the New Living Translation (NLT).

A LOST SHEEP'S PSALM

I am a sheep, and by nature, very dumb,

I know when I am hungry, thirsty and tired,

But don’t know how to get these needs met.

I know I don’t want to be prey to the wildlife out there,

But don’t know how to keep me safe.

Sometimes I am afraid and tired,

But have no idea how or where to find rest.

 Oh, somebody, HELP ME!

 Wait: I just realized what I need: a caretaker, a shepherd! A shepherd knows all the things I need, and he has the resources and the ability to provide them.    

This Shepherd found me when I was lost, wandering, and without hope. I wasn’t even aware of my condition. How sad: to be lost and not know it!

He took me into His loving sheepfold and made me one of His own. Now I am His forever; I’ve finally found love and a sense of belonging.

Ever since He brought me into the fold, things have changed drastically: He’s given me many marvelous promises, and the assurance I never had and never realized I needed. He’s promised I’ll belong to Him forever; no one can ever snatch me from His hands. I feel so secure in His care because He never slumbers nor falls asleep; my waking moments are just as safe as the moments when I’m asleep.

My loving Shepherd guides and leads me so I don’t wander away, but if I recklessly do, He comes looking for me and brings me back home safely. My Shepherd is an amazing Provider; He answers before I call, and while I’m still speaking, He hears. Talk about being loved! He’s even promised blessings when I obey Him. He doesn’t have to do that; after all, I belong to Him and all I have belongs to Him as well. Wow!  

Are you a lost sheep? Then you need my Shepherd; I know what your life has been like because I’ve been there. My Shepherd has so much room in the sheepfold; there’s room for you, and as many as know they need a Shepherd. Call on Him today, and He will bring you in, provide for you, and keep you safe. The longer you wait out there, the longer it will take to find rest and comfort -- or you might not find it at all. 

I know As long as I live, He will pursue me with His unfailing love, in all situations, and at the end, He’ll bring me safely home to live with Him forever! I encourage you to come to Jesus today; He is the great Shepherd of the sheep! 

 

 

GOD IS SLOW TO ANGER

What does it mean that “God is slow to anger?” It means God does not rush into getting angry or furious, which will also mean He gives Himself a lot of time before responding to annoying situations. We know He is slow to anger because that’s how He described Himself when He passed in front of Moses. He announced: “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness” (Exodus 34:6). What exactly though, can make Him angry? They all come under one heading: Sin!

God is holy, and anything that goes against His nature is sin. He does not condone or make excuses for it. He makes His holiness clear to us through His commandments, so when we disregard His commands and go our own way, we’ve sinned. And we know how sin entered the world; Adam and Eve disobeyed Him in the garden, believing and obeying the serpent instead. Ever since then, sin has plagued man. The consequences are everywhere, in the form of destruction, diseases, hatred, famine, you name it. It breaks my heart! But thank God for Jesus who is making all things new, starting with paying the penalty for our sins.

God’s anger plus His justice lead to judgment, and judgment brings destruction. However, because He loves man and is slow to anger, He does not judge right away; He wants people to repent: “Our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved” (2 Peter 3:15). He has provided salvation through Jesus Christ, so man really has no excuse about facing judgment. With all that said, we know God is faithful and will not allow man to continue in sin indefinitely. He will bring judgment upon all those who do not heed His warning to repent.

We have proof of God’s patience; look at our world and all the evil that’s going on. The only conclusion we can draw is that God is patient—slow to anger! Aren’t you tired of the mess we are in right now? I am! Look at the fraud, deception, lies, murder (even innocent babies), and politics where politicians are seeking power and their personal glory, instead of working with each other for the good of the citizens. Do you ever feel like asking: “How long, Lord; how long?” I do, and I do ask because this is exhausting; evil is everywhere and seems to be getting worse by the day. When is He going to replace patience with judgment? I don’t know and neither do you. Until then, if you haven’t repented, please do so and ask for forgiveness through Jesus Christ. Don’t let that day take you by surprise; if you die without God’s forgiveness, or if Jesus returns to earth without you being forgiven, it will be too late: judgment and destruction are all you can hope for. Jesus is offering you salvation today and every day before you die. Are you going to accept it? Please don’t think you can do it later, because if you knew which rainy night your car might have a flat tire, I’m sure you’d stay off the road.      

If you are reading this and you already have a personal relationship with God through Jesus, I say hello my brother/ sister! We have work to do: work in the form of praying, living right, and testifying to others about the love of God. Let’s be like the beggar who tells a fellow beggar where to find bread. And when our Lord returns, may He find us busy winning souls!

THE GROUNDS ON WHICH OBEDIENCE CAN BE DEMANDED OR EXPECTED

Parents have the responsibility to teach and train their children if they expect them to grow into responsible adults. If children are not instructed, they won’t know what’s expected of them. But if they fail to carry out orders after they’ve been instructed, the parent has the right and responsibility to correct the child by whichever means would be effective. The same is true of boss-employee relationships; employees can’t be expected to perform duties that have not been assigned to them.  

In the same way, God instructs us before demanding obedience.  For example, He wants the gospel preached to everyone, giving them the opportunity to accept or reject Him. He’s given man the freedom of choice; that way, people are totally responsible for the outcome of the choices they make. When Jesus foretold the future in Matthew 24, He said, “The Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come” (verse 14). When people choose to not accept salvation, they have by default accepted the alternative—judgment.

After the Israelites returned from captivity and were settled in their towns (during the Nehemiah and Ezra era), they requested Ezra the priest to read to them the Book of the Law of Moses. He did, and they had a wonderful time of worship, celebrating that they had heard and understood the Word of God (see Nehemiah 8:12).

The following day, the family leaders, priests, and Levites met with Ezra to go over the Law in greater detail. “As they studied the Law, they discovered that the LORD had commanded through Moses that the Israelites should live in shelters during the festival to be held that month” (Nehemiah 8:14). So, they did! “Everyone who had returned from captivity lived in these shelters, during the festival, and they were all filled with great joy!” (Verse 17) It is obvious that they obeyed because they knew what God wanted them to do. Without that discovery, they wouldn’t have obeyed.

The only way we can know what God expects of us is to read and study His Word; we need to know the specifics. If we are really interested in pleasing Him through obedience, we can’t live our lives on guesswork and assumptions. After the death of Moses, God instructed Joshua, Moses’ assistant, to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. God gave him the formula for success: “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this book of instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do” (Joshua 1:7-8).  

The apostle Paul, in admonishing Timothy, taught him the benefits of the Scriptures. Scripture teaches us what’s right and what’s wrong, and corrects us when we are wrong (see 2 Timothy 3:16). If we desire to obey God, we must know what His Word says. I should also mention that in addition to success, obedience brings us joy.

Let’s study the Word, and let’s obey it!

All quotes are from the New Living Translation (NLT).

Please feel free to share; thank you.     

LET’S NOT FORGET WHERE WE CAME FROM!

If you should ask the very next person you meet where they come from, they would probably mention a country, state, or city. They might even go to the extent of telling you which city they were born in, where they grew up, and probably, where they currently reside. All that is good information, but really, where do we come from?

The Scriptures have the answer to that question—we came from dirt! “The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person” (Genesis 2:7). That’s right: without the breath of God, we’d just be dirt. So, here’s the equation: dirt plus God’s breath equals human; human minus God’s breath equals dirt. Without the breath of God, we are nothing.

We need to visit this equation often, because as sobering as it sounds, it is a good reminder. We need to not forget so we can stay humble, acknowledging God as the giver of life. It is God’s breath that keeps us alive. Any time we are tempted to be proud and arrogant, let’s remind ourselves that we are just dirt, and will return to dirt the moment He takes His breath away from us. Jesus reminds Christians: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).  

It’s heartbreaking to hear and see people from all walks of life who give God no respect, and act like they are in charge of life, of themselves, and everybody else. We don’t thank Him or give Him glory. We claim glory for ourselves by announcing ‘who’ we are and how great we are. We proudly claim ownership of our lives and the lives of others we might have helped in small, and probably insignificant, ways. God gave us the ability, health, and all it took to accomplish whatever we’ve ever accomplished. So, guess who should get the glory for our achievements? God: not us!

The Psalmist beautifully acknowledges this fact: “Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from beginning to end, you are God. You turn people back to dust, saying, ‘Return to dust, you mortals!’” (Psalm 90:2-3) So, the next time you feel arrogant about whatever you’re involved in, just remind yourself that without the breath of God, you are just dirt, and tone it down, giving glory to the One to whom glory is due—GOD! 

Interestingly, when things go wrong, we quickly ask, “But where is God?” Which God could that be? If we don’t ever acknowledge Him, why do we question his whereabouts when trouble strikes? He doesn’t owe us anything; we owe Him everything we are and have, including our very breath!

Although we turn our backs on Him so often, He still loves us and seeks a one-on-one relationship with us. To that end, He sent His One and only Son, Jesus, to earth to save us. He lived among men, without sin, and died in our place to form a bridge that leads us back to God the Father.

Have you been so busy being impressed with your life that you’ve paid God no attention? Well, be reminded that you are dirt plus God’s breath, and He is going to require that breath from you sooner or later. You’ll then have to give an account of your life. What would you say for yourself then? The correct response will allow you to live with God in heaven forever, but the wrong answer will send you to hell. Nobody with some imagery of hell would consider going there; the truth is, it is an awful place where the fire never goes out. The suffering does not ever stop!

Now, this is what you need to do to escape that fire pit: acknowledge to God that you are a sinner because you are (you were born a sinner) and ask for His forgiveness through Jesus Christ. He will honor His promise by forgiving you and adopting you into His family. The Bible says: “God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood” (Romans 3:25). He will come and dwell in your heart through His Holy Spirit. This will make you His child, and Him your Father, bringing you into the one-on-one relationship I mentioned earlier.

This is only the beginning of the relationship; you’ll have to grow it through reading the Bible and prayer. The Bible is His manual for how you should live. Obey what He says, and His Word will gradually transform you into His image. You’ll recognize sin, call it by its name, and turn your back on it. His command to you is: “Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy” (Ephesians 3:22-24).

Are you willing to acknowledge that you are what you are because of God? Then don’t stop there; ask Him to come into your heart, and then love and serve Him with gratitude for as long as His breath remains in you. Then when you return to dirt, you’ll live with Him forever in heaven!  

NB: All quotes are from the New Living Translation (NLT).

CHRISTIAN, YOU ARE A WATCHMAN!

We don’t hear the title “watchman” that much anymore; instead, we say “security guard.” Either way, the job description is about the same. A watchman’s responsibility depends on the needs of the employer. Most often, the watchman is expected to patrol in and around a building to make sure there’s no burglary going on. Also, a watchman’s presence serves as a deterrent to people who might otherwise want to break in. Other watchmen, however, have the responsibility of watching and warning a population of impending danger.

God needs watchmen to warn unbelievers of impending judgment, so they’ll repent and be forgiven. He does not gain anything from the death of the wicked: “Do you think I like to see wicked people die? Of course not! I want them to turn from their wicked ways and live” (Ezekiel 18:23).

God called Ezekiel to be a watchman for the nation of Israel (see Ezekiel 33:7). He explained the watchman’s responsibility this way: “When the watchman sees the enemy coming, he must sound the alarm to warn the people. Then if those who hear the alarm refuse to take action, it is their own fault if they die. They heard the alarm but ignored it, so the responsibility is theirs. … But if the watchman sees the enemy coming but doesn’t sound the alarm to warn the people, he is responsible for their captivity. They will die in their sins, but I will hold the watchman responsible for their deaths” (Ezekiel 33:3-6). 

In the same way, God has sent us, His disciples, to go and preach the gospel to all nations: “I have been given authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: ‘I am with you always, even to the end of the age’” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Since the church age, evangelism has been the church’s number one charge and focus. The disciples of Jesus traveled all over the then world preaching the gospel to all who would listen. Sometimes they were persecuted for their faith, but they did not allow that to stop them; they pressed on!

That charge has not changed and won’t until the Lord Jesus returns to set up His Kingdom, but it is more urgent now than ever because His return is closer now than it was then. How focused have you been? It is not enough to be saved; we need to be obedient and diligent so others will be saved as well.

Do you realize there are many people in your sphere of influence who have never heard, understood, or responded to the gospel? Let’s try to prayerfully engage them in friendly conversations and discussions; that’s all God asks of us. We can’t convict or convert anyone; that’s the work of the Holy Spirit. Our charge is to share the gospel, and the Holy Spirit will take over. It’s our responsibility to warn people, and when they repent, come alongside them and help them grow in their faith. But if they don’t repent, they will have no excuse when they face God’s judgment; we will have exonerated ourselves.

As watchmen, what’s our message? It is the same message Jesus preached, and it is this: “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of God is near” (Matthew 4:17). The Psalmist clearly charges us to “Each day proclaim the good news that he saves” (Psalm 96:2). 

If a person doesn’t get into the Kingdom of heaven, he’ll get into hell, and that’s what we should be warning them about. How do they turn to God? They’ll need to understand that “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12), and that the name is Jesus, and so if you “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).

Dear Christian, remember, you became an appointed watchman the day you became a Christian, and you are charged to exhibit your faith through your actions wherever you are, go, or happen to be. Allow the way you live your life to complement your message. Heaven is waiting expectantly to rejoice over every sinner who repents (see Luke 15:7). Are you willing to help make this happen? Be a conscientious watchman!