335. CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT?

(The Abundant Life Series – Batch 4)

As we approach what is referred to as Good Friday in four days’ time and then Easter Sunday, I’ve been thinking:

Imagine, Jesus came to set people free, so that they might have life and more abundantly (Isaiah 61:1-3; Luke 4:17-21; John 10:10). Yet, when he was born, the pervasive mood on earth was not one of rejoicing, happiness and excitement but the people were TROUBLED (Matthew 2:2-3).

Imagine, he served as a substitute for the sins of the world and died sacrificially for all of us, to make an atonement for our sins through his shed blood. For the wages of sin is death (1 Peter 2:24; Romans 5:6-11). Yet, when he was killed, the pervasive mood on earth was not one of sadness, sorrow and grief but of REJOICING (John 16:20). They thought that they had finally gotten rid of him!

Imagine people being troubled at your birth but happy at your death, when you came for the sole purpose of saving their wretched souls!

Yet, this is not the end of the story. The world is in for a shocker because Jesus did not remain dead. No. On the third day, he rose up from the grave (because he is Lord and Lord over all, including death) (Luke 24:1-6; John 20:1-15), appeared to many witnesses, then went back to heaven. He has however promised to come again and will most certainly do so, this time to judge the world of sin (Acts 17:31). When he returns, the world (which had opportunity to make things right with God by believing on his Son Jesus Christ, confessing that he is Lord and surrendering their lives to his control and Lordship) will not be glad but will MOURN (Matthew 24:30; Revelation 1:7). Can you imagine that?

The world was TROUBLED at his birth, REJOICED at his death and will be MOURNING/WAILING when he returns!

When he comes again, it will be too late then though, for any person found outside the righteous covering that Jesus now provides, by faith in Him. Of this righteousness by faith which is accessible and attainable while we are still alive, the Word of God makes it clear in Romans 10:6-13:

• “But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt CONFESS with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt BELIEVE in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, WHOSOEVER believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto ALL that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Jesus is alive and is still speaking to the hearts of men. He wants to save your soul from hell and the eternal damnation to come. Will you believe by faith, God’s testimony of him, as given in the Word of God, the Bible? The world and all of its allures tries to pull in the other direction but “To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” For “behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (Hebrews 3:15; 2 Corinthians 6:2)

Jesus, who often referred to himself as the Son of man (because by heaven’s design, he came to earth through the passage of a woman and as a man), stated many years ago and the message remains true:

• “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That WHOSEOVER believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” (John 3:13-21)

(Written on 14th April, 2025)