here stand I

Justification. Grace. Acceptance. Reconciliation. Redemption. Propitiation. These are all words that describe different aspects of the atonement. As a human being, I am born into bondage and there is nothing that I can do in and of myself to buy, earn, or manipulate my standing before a holy God who has no choice but to punish my sin by means of His righteous wrath in order to uphold His justice. Every attempt to fix or manipulate my standing, cover up my sin, make excuses and shift the blame to something or someone else is futile. The eyes that pierce through all my efforts at pleasing God in my own strength will gaze into this empty, desolate heart and have no choice but to destroy my pride and lay me low until I accept the fact that I am nothing but dust and a spiritual beggar who is bankrupt and desolate. Whatever I have to offer God, must be provided by someone that is eternal and not born into this dark, desolate, wilderness. Wallow, self-pity, pride, self-righteousness, fear, anxiety, all drive me into a deeper despair. I trudge through this mire and attempt to appease this wrathful, vengeful judge but in the end it is nothing but dirty rags that have been tainted with my own blood and refuse. Nothing I do is ever good enough. I fall and when I think I’m finally upon my feet again I am faced with a chasm that is wide, deep, and dark. I plummet over the edge falling into an unknown and I keep reaching into the abyss hoping that something bigger than myself will reach out and grab ahold of my hand and pull me out of this hideous state. But if this is what it takes to lose all faith in myself, then praise be to God. May I become a spiritual beggar so that Christ may provide my righteousness. May I be cut deep so that Christ can heal and mend this broken heart. May I lose all faith in myself so that I may place all my faith in Christ. May He pour me out so that I may be filled with His Spirit. May he continue to chisel away at this heart of stone in order that He may replace it with a heart of flesh. May He take away all fear and give me His peace. Surrender. This is what Christ did in order to uphold both God’s justice and His mercy. The only solution was for the Infinite to enter into this finite world and for the Eternal to enter into the temporal. The Holy to become sin, take upon Himself the very wrath of a Holy, Righteous God who is light and in Him there is no darkness. In exchange, His mercy is upheld by giving us His Righteousness which is not our own. This is GRACE. He ransomed me from this desolate wilderness of endless, aimless, apathy. The price of my sin has been paid in full. Why do I dwell on my past sin and regrets while He remembers my sin and lawless deeds no more. I must accept His grace. If I don’t, then it is nothing less than unbelief. “For by a single offering he has perfected for ALL TIME those who are being sanctified.” There is no sanctification without justification. This is the road that all believers must travel. Life is bigger than our happiness and comfort. But there is still joy to be found in the midst of pain and suffering. We have HOPE! No matter what this life deals or how many times we fall, we have the promise that the Spirit is the seal and guarantor of our glorification. Although we gaze through a glass dimly, we will see Him with our very eyes face to face. When the voice of the Creator says “LIVE!”, this spiritual corpse receives life. When we face that last enemy, “that which is mortal will be swallowed up by life.” Eternal life is NOW for those who are in Christ. So, pick up your Cross Christian. You are a nomad and pilgrim in this world. Your citizenship is in heaven and you serve the King of all kings. You are His ambassador! Stand firm therefore and receive the grace of Christ into your life. Let it begin to produce the fruit of the Spirit. Love freely. Be gentle with one another and forgive even before someone sins against you. Cherish your relationships and when they are broken, do what you know to do to restore fellowship and be reconciled in Christ. As you look at the Cross, don’t ever leave it. When you turn from it, you are turning to something or someone other than Christ who gave Himself for you so that you may have life. Trust in your Maker who can turn what man intended for evil into good. There is nothing outside of His Sovereign control. Providence. Rest. Peace. We are broken vessels, but He is in the process of picking up the pieces one day at a time and some day we will be complete and with Him for eternity. Long for this day. Pain will cease. Hurt will be no more. Tears will be a thing of the past. Because our sin was infinitely offensive, the sacrifice of Atonement must be infinite as well. It took Christ, the Infinite Son of God to pay this infinite debt. Here I stand! Naked. Exposed. Bloody. Torn. The only solace that I find is in knowing that this is the only way to enter into Eternal life and as I look to Christ, I know that I find a High Priest who knows what is to be naked, exposed, bloody, and torn. He is the Resurrection and the Life. He who conquered Death, LIVES and we who were once dead have been found and given life and are more than conquerors. Believe it! Dispense this grace to others and no matter how dark the night may be, look to Him who is Light and know that joy will come in the morning!