Significance

Hebrews 6:19 (Hebrews 6:13, 16-20)

When God made His promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for Him to swear by, He swore by Himself.

Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.  Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, He confirmed it with an oath.  God did this so that by two unchangeable  things, in which it is impossible for God lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us might be greatly encouraged.  We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.  It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us has entered on our behalf.  He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. 

God promised Abraham he would be the father of many nations.  How many is many?  Israel, Edom, the nations of the Ishmaelites?  How about Germany, Russia, Turkey, Italy, England, the USA?  Every country that at one time adopted Christianity became the children of Abraham.  Nations come and go; Yugoslavia, Moravia, Bohemia, and on and on, but God’s promise continues.

What does that mean to me?  The Father’s promises out last everything!

We “flee” to take hold of the promise.  What do we flee?  Destruction, chaos, the evil that is this world.

Where do we flee to?  The inner sanctuary, where, because Jesus entered first as our great high priest in the order of Melchizedek, we may now freely enter.

And here’s the twist... the inner sanctuary was the one place that assured us of our destruction.  But because of Jesus it’s the only place that assures us of eternal life!

The curtain is the door to the throne room of the Father.  Jesus, because He is the great high priest, is the only one who can hold that curtain back so that we may enter.

Abraham, who didn’t even have the Mosaic Law, died in peace because he saw the beginning of the fulfillment of the promise.  He knew Messiah would come even before there was a Moses.  But only in his dreams could he have envisioned what that promise would mean for the entire world, the entire planet and to me...little insignificant me!

Because Abraham listened and trusted God, I am significant.

I can’t wait to meet him!

He Calls Things That Are Not As Though They Were

Romans 4:7

As it is written, “ I have made you (Abraham) a father of many nations.”  He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed - the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.

Abraham was really old.  He’d been married to Sarah for many, many years. She never conceived.  

He had taken his destiny into his own hands, at one point, and gotten himself a son through Hagar, Sarah’s maid.

So, how can it be said that his faith was credited as righteousness?  

Because, God, in his grace, didn’t snatch his blessing away because of Abraham’s sin.  God remained faithful even after Abraham’s faith failed him!

God pointed out Abraham’s failure, but he didn’t hold it against him, and , when God told him Sarah would still be a mother, despite his sin, he believed him!

“…and calls things that are not as though they were.”  Calling is a creative act for God.  It’s not calling a chair a chair because it is one.  It’s calling things into existence, which only God can do.

Abraham knew that nothing is called into existence by the word of man.  But he knew that God was the Creator, and that the Word he called into existence was a New Word.

Because he forgave Abraham, a whole nation, a whole people group were called into existence that hadn’t been there before.  Because God forgave him, he  became the “father”  of the Messiah!

A new thing!  Something that was not, but then was. (Moses and the law)  Something that was not and now is! (the New Covenant)

Before Isaac was conceived, Abraham blew it.  He fathered a son that was outside the promise.  And the consequences have certainly been far reaching.

But God is even using that to  bring his kingdom to earth.  it is part of the tapestry.  It is part of the beauty of his plan.  

Why Wasn't The Cross Enough?

Isaiah 52:14New International Version (NIV)

Just as there were many who were appalled at him[a] his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being

and his form marred beyond human likeness—

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First, let me state that I am not a Kabbalist.  My husband gave me a book called, “Great Jewish Stories” which has a section in it of stories from the Kabbalah.  As a daughter of Abraham, grafted in and watered with the blood of Jesus, I recognize that wisdom can be found in the rich history of oral Jewish tradition.

So, this is my telling of, 

Faces Changed by Sin

When Adam and Eve sinned, they were cast out of the Garden of Eden.  The Lord said to them, “The fear of you and the dread of you will be upon every beast of the earth.”  The same creatures who had come to Adam, in trust, to receive their names now fled from them in fear.  Why?  Because their appearance was changed.  

When they walked in the garden with the Lord, His glory shone all over them!  They were the very image of God.  After they were cast out, they no longer reflected God’s glory.  Their faces reflected fearful hearts filled with sin.

Sin changes the features of a face.

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Why wasn’t the cross enough?  Why wasn’t death enough of a payment for the sins of humanity? 

Why did Jesus have to be beaten and flogged so very viciously?

Over the years I know I have asked those questions.  I’ve heard many others ask them too.

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Jesus is the 2nd Adam.  

When you want to know what your sin looks like, look at Jesus after he was beaten.

It’s one thing to think of Jesus dying for the sins of the whole world.  He did!  But, rather, think if you can, of each individual person… every single one, from the beginning of time until this very moment.  The sins of each one, you, me, your parent, my spouse, Osama Bin Ladin, Hitler, Julius Caesar…..

If the sin of one person, Adam, was enough to frighten away the animals that had once trusted him, how much more would the sin of every individual in the history of mankind make Jesus, the final sacrifice, unrecognizable?

His appearance was marred.  He was made unrecognizable, by my sin.

And in exchange, I have become the Apple of God’s eye!  He delights in me!  There is nothing that I can do that will make Him not love me, not make me the most important part of His day!  

Because Jesus was so brutally scarred, I am beautiful!

And so is each one who puts their faith in His sacrifice.

Don’t be saddened by what your sin has done.  

Be filled with gratitude that a way was made!

If it wouldn’t have been worth it, He wouldn’t have done it.

Be filled with the JOY made available by the greatest sacrifice of all!