Devotional—The Struggle of Sanctification—Jesus, the Sin Bearing Messiah
Do you remember whistling teapots? When the pressure from the boiling water reached a certain point, the teapot started whistling. But the noise did not stop immediately even though the pot was removed from the burner. As the pressure decreased the sound of the whistle slowly ceased. Yet, the water was still hot.
Two days ago, the United Nations Secretary-General issued this statement, “We are gridlocked in colossal global dysfunction,” Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, adding that “our world is in peril — and paralyzed.” AP News
On September 14th, the headlines read, “The world has never been in a better position to end the COVID-19 pandemic, the head of the World Health Organization said on Wednesday, his most optimistic outlook yet on the years-long health crisis which has killed over six million people.” Reuters.com
On September 20th, Fortune Well published a COVID update, “Just in time for fall, there’s a brand-new COVID variant making headway in the U.S.”
The majority’s reaction to our world predicament is to keep moving forward with their plans. Most people are sick and tired of hearing that things are worsening. Many have joined the movement of relocating to a country dwelling, growing a garden large enough to be self-sustaining, and homeschooling their children. Although there is nothing wrong with improving the quality of one’s life, we cannot stop the rapid progression from living in the last days to reaching the end of time.
We have reached the boiling point and the burner is at a high temperature. According to the Scriptures, our high alert of a critical status will worsen. “For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:3).
Before God created the earth, He knew that Adam and Eve would disobey and sin. The Plan of Salvation that mandated the death of Jesus was made before God said, “… ‘Let there be light…” (Genesis 1:3). Jesus committed to becoming our sacrificial Lamb so we may have the opportunity for eternal life.
The prophet Isaiah received God’s message that Jesus was our sin-bearing Messiah. “He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him” (Isaiah 53:3). Yes, Jesus was rejected by the majority of those He came to seek, serve, and save. And sadly, many present-day believers have also rejected Christ through the disobedience of self-gratifying pursuits.
Every Christian believer is aware of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Yet, due to the delay of Jesus’ Second Coming, many have grown comfortable living in their temporary earthly home. We have become paralyzed—we do not hear the whistling of this warning “these are the last days of earth’s history, Jesus is coming soon.”
Thankfully, God always has a remnant of people who are diligently seeking and serving Him. In Romans chapter 11, the Apostle Paul tells of the conversation between God and the prophet Elijah when Queen Jezebel threatened to kill him. “Lord, they have killed Your prophets and torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life?’ But what does the divine response say to him? ‘I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal’” (verses 3 and 4).
“So too at the present time, there is a remnant, chosen by grace” (Romans 11:5). Jesus did not die in vain! The Apostle John saw a great multitude, which no man could number who received their reward of eternal life. We must wake up to recognize the warnings that God is sending. Like David, we should pray daily for God to search our hearts for any wickedness and repent. Ask for the anointing of the Holy Spirit and continue to witness to others that Jesus is our Savior, Deliverer, and Heavenly Intercessor.
Prayer: God, we pray that You would search our hearts and reveal the sins that would keep us from receiving our reward of eternal life. We ask this prayer in the Worthy name of Jesus, Amen.
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