Why We Live

[dave c]

HEALING SHELTER MINISTRIES #131p Re-Written 10JAN09 http://groups.msn.com/AHealingShelter/welcome.msnw

Save Me Today—Part Sixteen: Why We Live

by rev dave c

In spite of what is commonly believed within the world (and, unfortunately, within the church) regarding the “immortality of the soul,” the Bible is quite clear in its warnings to the disobedient: “The soul who sins is the one who will die” (Ez 18:4b & 18:20a). In actuality, Scripture does not refer to “the immortal soul.” The phrase is 100% ancient Greek philosophy that holds man as being a demigod-like inner soul that is trapped in base, but temporary, flesh, and it longs to be set free. The goal in this pagan religion is to release the soul from the prison of the material world and so spend eternity in the glory that is real humanity. Because the body is of no importance in this false teaching, public nudity, sexual promiscuity, and overindulgence of all varieties are not only permissible—they are to be encouraged. The message is clear: “If the body and all it entails is going to perish, why not use it in the meantime for all the carnal pleasures possible?” This is in direct opposition to the Judeo-Christian teaching that how we spend eternity will be shaped by the decisions we make here and now during our lifetimes on this Earth (1Co 3:10-15).

The bad news: “...All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Ro 3:23). Blessedly, Job 33 brings us The Good News: 23 “Yet if there is [a messenger/ambassador] on his side as a mediator, one out of a thousand, to tell a man what is right for him, 24 to be gracious to him and say, `Spare him from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom for him'-- 25 then his flesh is renewed like a child's; it is restored as in the days of his youth. 26 He prays to God and finds favor with him, he sees God's face and shouts for joy; he is restored by God to his righteous state. 27 Then he comes to men and says, `I sinned, and perverted what was right, but I did not get what I deserved. 28 He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit, and I will live to enjoy the light.' 29 "God does all these things to a man-- twice, even three times-- 30 to turn back his soul from the pit, that the light of life may shine on him.”

All that was prophesied and longed for in these verses from Job were brought to life in the first advent of Jesus Christ. The Son of God/Son of Man is our ambassador (He 4:4-16), our mediator (1Ti 2:5), our teacher (Mt 22:35-40), and our advocate (Jn 17). We see God’s face in His person (Jn 14:6-11). He is our righteousness (1Co 1:30/). As our redeemer, He paid on the cross the ransom to free us from all our past, present, and future sin debt (1Pe 3:18/Ga 3:13&14). He has saved our souls from imminent death and destruction (1Pe 1:8&9). Oh, friends, this is Good News. This is very Good News!

We have to ask why God the Father would send the Son in the power of the Holy Spirit to save us from the present misery, and the future consequences, of our disobedience. In Chapter 38 of Isaiah we are provided three fold insight as to the nature of God’s heart: “15 But what can I say? He has spoken to me, and he himself has done this. I will walk humbly all my years because of this anguish of my soul. 16 Lord, by such things men live; and my spirit finds life in them too. You restored me to health and let me live. 17 Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back. 18 For the grave cannot praise you, death cannot sing your praise; those who go down to the pit cannot hope for your faithfulness. 19 The living, the living--they praise you, as I am doing today; fathers tell their children about your faithfulness.”

God gives us life. God loves us. God created us to love Him. Listen to the voice of God in the pen of Isaiah: “42:4 Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life. 5 Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. 6 I will say to the north, `Give them up!' and to the south, `Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth-- 7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” God created us for His glory—He has formed us and made us because He loves us, and He desires our love. Isaiah continues in Chapter Fifty Seven: “15 For this is what the high and lofty One says-- he who lives forever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. 16 I will not accuse forever, nor will I always be angry, for then the spirit of man would grow faint before me-- the breath of man that I have created.” Do you hear what The One True God Almighty is saying to us? The all powerful, all knowing, all present Creator of the Universe lives in the glory of the highest heavens—but He also lives with the contrite and lowly in spirit.

Jesus was born fully human and fully Divine in a lowly manger and into a humble family, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son” (Jn 3:16-18). When Elohiym says in Genesis 1:26&27, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness...So God created man in his own image,” God finished His work of creating man in His image and rested on the seventh day (Ge 2:1-3), all the while knowing there was yet another day to come when He would again say, “It is finished” (Jn 19:30), as He worked by example and through empowerment to make man in His likeness. Finally, there is a third day in the undisclosed future when we will hear our Lord and Savior say one last time, “It is finished” (Re 21:6), and all the redeemed will enter fully into His eternal rest. Amen.