Devotional
for the Week 14 May 2007
An
Inconvenient Truth
Sermon Text: Luke
23:32 - 34
Human
life is precious to all of us but we are all aware of the imperfection
of the human condition and the world we live in. Even though mankind
has made many breakthroughs in modern science and discovered the
cure for many illnesses, our abilities are limited to our lifespan
and at any one time, there will always be an incurable disease
that stumps scientists.
This
world was not always imperfect. If you recall, when God created
the world, everything was perfect. In fact, God looked at it and
said it was good. He created Adam and Eve to tend to the paradise
He created. God gave them freedom to eat from any tree except
the Tree of Life. Satan came along and tempted Eve to eat from
the tree she was forbidden to eat. She ate and also persuaded
Adam to eat. This disobedience caused them to sin and they were
cast out of the garden. Their relationship with God was broken
and it resulted in spiritual as well as physical death.
We
may be angry at Adam and Eve for sinning, but we must also remember
that we too are sinful and because of sin, we are separated from
God. However, God loves us so much that He wants man to be reconciled
with Him. God is also just and sin requires punishment. To provide
a way of reconciliation, God sent His only begotten Son –
Jesus (who is both God and man) to die on the cross for us. Jesus
took all of humanity’s rebellion and the consequences of
this rebellion upon Himself. He separated Himself from Heaven
and went to Hell – so that we would not have to go to Hell
ourselves. Hell is the place of final exile for all rebels against
God’s laws. He did not take a high position but experienced
the lowness of status as well as being despised by man. (Isaiah
53:2-3). He desired so much to reconcile man to God and to show
us that He understood the suffering we are going through.
As
Jesus hung on the cross between the two criminals, Jesus cried
out “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they
are doing.” (Luke 23:34 NLT). Indeed they did know that
it was God they were killing on that Friday. Sad though it may
be, it was necessary for Jesus to die on the cross for all of
us. As Jesus and the two criminals hung on the cross, the first
criminal mocked Jesus and asked Jesus to prove that He is the
Son of God and save Himself. The second criminal rebuked the first
criminal and told him that they deserved their punishment as they
committed crimes but not Jesus. He then turned to Jesus and asked
Jesus to remember him in paradise. Jesus responded by telling
him that he would be in paradise with Him.
There
were three persons who hung on crosses that day and we should
note the different responses of each.
| — |
One
criminal died that day insisting on living life his way until
his dying breath. |
| — |
The second
criminal died realizing the folly of his ways and putting
his hope in the One he believed was his Saviour. |
| — |
Jesus
died even though He did nothing wrong. He submitted to God’s
will for Him to bring reconciliation between God and man. |
Will
we respond as the first criminal did – insisting on his
way until the very end? Will we respond as the second criminal
did – admitting our sin and seeking God’s intervention
in our lives? Whatever our decision, do consider what and why
the Lord Jesus did what He did, and died upon the Cross. This
is an inconvenient truth; but one that sets us free.
Prayer
Response
Dear
Lord Jesus, though You did nothing wrong, You submitted to the
Father’s will for our sake. Thank You for your suffering
of grace. I confess my sins and ask that You cleanse me with Your
precious blood. Help me begin a loving and intimate relationship
with You each day. In Your name I pray, Amen.
Devotional
based on a message by Rev Joel Yong