The first act of religion was recorded in Genesis 3 after Adam and Eve yielded to temptation and sinned against God. They ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and realized they were naked. God’s plan of redemption for the sins of all mankind appears in verse 21: “The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them” (Genesis 3:21 NASB). He made them clothing by taking the life of an innocent animal; shedding its blood so that Adam and Eve’s disgrace of sin could be covered. And so it would continue all through the chronicles of the Old Testament until Jesus’s ultimate act of atonement on the cross.

There is a scarlet thread as God announces His plan of salvation to Adam through the seed of the woman, then calls Abraham, then calls the tribe of Judah, then the dynasty of David. And as God incrementally reveals His plan of redemption, it allows Satan to focus his attack to derail God’s redemptive plan. Each in turn is then singled out: Abraham, the tribe of Judah, then David and his descendants, then the virgin birth – all continuing on to another tree and another garden, where He died for you and me. He was crucified on a cross of wood, yet He made the hill on which it stood. What began with a tree in paradise was concluded on a tree on a hill, Golgotha, otherwise known as the skull.

We can talk about the attributes of God. We can understand His infinite power if we merely gaze into the starlit night sky or have some understanding of astronomy. We can talk about His omniscience, His ability to see and know all, at all times. We can imagine this. The creation of God manifests these attributes so that everyone is without excuse.

But what about infinite love? God knowing that if man were left to choose, he would enter into a predicament so dire and hopeless that only the death of God would serve to extricate. That is exactly what God knew, realized, and out of His infinite love, grace and mercy acted upon for you and me. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

One of the things that’s very uncomfortable for so many, but must be dealt with and realized, is that there is only one path that leads to salvation and life eternal.

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)

He that believes on the Son has everlasting life; and he that believes not on the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. (John 3:36)

What is the basis of your faith? If your view is “I’m as good or better than the next guy,” that’s called STRIKE ONE! How about “I’m doing the best I can.” STRIKE TWO!! If it’s “I’m going to live by the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount,” STRIKE THREE!!! If you try these as the only bases of your faith, you’ll discover the reason they are given — to demonstrate you cannot do it on your own power. That’s the point, “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:10-15)

Obviously, the gold, silver and precious stones will survive the fire. The wood, hay and straw do not. If any man’s work survives the fire, that work will be rewarded. A man’s work which is burned up by the fire will be counted to him as loss, but he himself will be saved by God’s grace. You may have your works destroyed, but you will be saved — or not saved — according to your relationship through faith in Jesus Christ. This is a key verse to understand. It’s well worth it to build upon the right foundation with your works so that you end up getting rewarded, but even if you lose everything because you’ve built upon the wrong foundation, if you’re saved you’re still saved, despite your loss and regardless of your works. You’re saved like a refugee. You may have nothing, but you’re saved.

What is your connection with eternity? Eternity is not way off in the future — that’s incorrect. You are living in your eternity now. Your connection with eternity is right now. Your past is a memory, the future is a hope, and right now is a gift — that’s why it’s called the present. Your eternity is only a heartbeat away. We all have an appointment with death. The exact moment, day and time is already set. We will change our state of being, but it is only a continuation of the eternity we are presently living in.

We can argue about when the rapture is going to occur. We can try to discern prophecy and determine what will happen next year or next month, etc., but we all have an appointment with death and it will occur on time, God’s time. Your relationship to Jesus Christ and that connection to your eternity needs to be settled right now if it hasn’t been already. There are no accidents in God’s kingdom, and the question is, where will you find yourself? And how sure are you? There are many issues that make people uncomfortable, but it needs to be confronted head on because it is the most important decision of your life. You need to be firmly grounded in the basis of your conviction.

Jesus has said, “Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name and perform many miracles in your name?’ And then I will declare to them ‘I Never knew you. Depart from me you workers of lawlessness.’” (Matthew 7:21-23)

Jesus is a Jewish king, a Jewish Messiah. He is King of the Jews. He will one day rule an earthly kingdom through Israel with its capital in Jerusalem. We have a Bible that was authored by Jewish people and a church that was founded by Jewish leadership. Do you know Him? Who is Jesus to you?

He is the King of all the ages, King of Heaven, King of Glory, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Prophet before Moses, Priest after Melchizedek, champion like Joshua, offering in place of Isaac, King from the line of David, Wise Counselor above Solomon, beloved, rejected, exalted son like Joseph. The heavens declare His glory, the firmament shows His handiwork — He who is and was and always shall be, the first and the last, the Alpha and the Omega, the Aleph and the Tav in Hebrew, the First fruit of them that slept, the I Am that I Am.

He’s the voice in the burning bush, the captain of the Lord’s host, the conqueror of Jericho, supremely strong, entirely sincere, eternally steadfast, mortally graceful, imperially powerful, impartially merciful. In Him dwells the fullness of the Godhead bodily, the very God of very God. He’s our Kinsman Redeemer, but also our avenger of blood, our city of refuge, our performing High Priest, our personal prophet, our reigning King. He is the loftiest head in literature, highest personality in philosophy, fundamental doctrine of theology, the supreme problem in higher criticism (as discipline), miracle of all the ages, the superlative of everything good.

You and I are the beneficiaries of a love letter that was written on a wooden cross erected in Judea some 2,000 years ago. He was crucified on that cross of wood, yet He made the tree from which it was taken and the hill upon which it stood. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3).

What held Him to that cross? It wasn’t the nails. At any time, He could have said, “Enough already, I’m out of here!” and called upon legions of angels to rescue Him. It was His undying love for you and me that held Him to that cross as He gave His life for our sins. He was born of a woman so that you and I would be born again. Born of God, He humbled Himself so that we would be lifted up. He became a servant so that we could become joint heirs with Him. He suffered rejection so that we could become His friends. He denied Himself so that we could freely receive all things. He gave up Himself so that He could bless us in every way.

He’s available to the tempted and tried, to the young and the aged alike. He cleanses the lepers. He defends the feeble. He delivers the captives. He discharges the debtor. He forgives the sinners. He enfranchises the meek. He guards the besieged. He heals the sick. He provides strength to the weak. He guards the aged. He rewards the diligent. He serves the unfortunate. He sympathizes and He saves. His offers are manifold. His reign is righteous. His promises are sure. His goodness is limitless, His grace is sufficient. His love never ceases or changes. His mercy is everlasting and His word is enough. His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

He is indescribable, incomprehensible, irresistible and invincible. The heaven of heavens cannot contain Him and men cannot explain Him. The Pharisees couldn’t stand Him and learned they could not stop Him. Pilate, the personal representative of the ruler of the world could not find fault in Him. The witnesses could not agree against Him. Herod couldn’t kill Him, death couldn’t handle Him, the grave couldn’t hold Him and the devil cannot stop Him.

He has always been and always will be. He had no predecessor and He will have no successor. He cannot be impeached and He will not resign. His name is above every name. At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. His is the kingdom and the power and the glory for ever and ever.

All glory be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Holding fast,

Mark

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God; and such we are. (1 John 3:1)

(Psalm 40:5)