Thursday, 26 November 2009

• Being Thankful for Christ

  A large number of American families know the horrible feeling of sending their children off to war. Some time ago, I listened to a mother express her inner turmoil as her son left to begin his military career in the United States Marines. While I myself do not have children, I could easily see and feel her emotions in the countenance of her face and the emotions of her words. There are many places her son may land, and quite a few of them are quite far from danger. However the chance does remain that he could be stationed in Iraq or Afghanistan. Thus placing him in a combat zone.

  Can you relate? Perhaps you have a child that is off to war. If not, place yourself in this mindset; you're sending your son off to war to save a people, and you know that the end result could be his death. Not only that, but every day he is gone from you he will be facing situation after situation where, if he fails in his mission, the war is lost! Would your child be worth losing for the sake of the many? Your only son?

  John 3: 17 "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

  Beloved, the greatest soldier to ever live was the only soldier to have victory in the longest most bloody war ever fought. The Lord Jesus Christ was “in country” for 33 years and the battle most often talked about was the final one where His life was given. Don’t get me wrong, his death is where the victory was finally won for all who believe. His battle was so much longer however. From the moment of his first temptation to sin He fought! His flesh and Spirit constantly under attack from the enemy. Don’t be fooled about this enemy either. The commander of this army is the most sinister of all created beings. His Generals were relentless and each demon specialized in some specific form of terror. The foot soldiers were as numerous as the stars and loved serving the commander. Strange thing is, it was those foot soldiers whom He came to fight for and win for! Yes beloved, we were those soldiers and we loved serving our Commander the Devil. It was us for whom the Father sent His only Son off to fight for and win for!

  For 33 years he battled against temptation and sin to secure for us a righteousness that could be given to us apart from our having to keep the law. For 33 years He fought and dealt with the fullness of His humanity to grasp for us the one requirement that God demands.. Holiness! He was tempted in every way like us we are told in the Scriptures. Yet without sin! Praise God! We have a Savior who battled daily to provide us with a righteous covering that we receive by faith in Him.

  Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22.  even the righteousness of God which is through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all who believe.

  This Thanksgiving I hope and pray that all of you will be comforted by the fact that Christ came in to the world to save sinners. Be comforted by the fact that He came for 33 years to keep the law that we could not (and did not even want to). Let your hope rest on His finished work of fulfilling the law and giving that perfection to everyone who believes. Amen!

  Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5. to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
  
  What are some reasons you are thankful for Christ?
  

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