a Love Story a Burial February 25
a LOVE STORY
February 25, 2021
a Burial
Colossians 2:12-15, ‘No, you’re already in—insiders—not through some secretive initiation rite but rather through what Christ has already gone through for you, destroying the power of sin. If it’s an initiation ritual you’re after, you’ve already been through it by submitting to baptism. Going under the water was a burial of your old life; coming up out of it was a resurrection. God raising you from the dead as He did Christ. When you were stuck in your old sin-dead life, you were incapable of responding to God. God brought you alive—right along with Christ! Think of it! All sins forgiven, the slate wiped clean, that old arrest warrant canceled and nailed to Christ’s cross. He stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham authority at the Cross and marched them naked through the streets (MSG).’
What an incredible journey, and in some ways, the Master recognized, it was just beginning. The creation He had dreamt about had been given the eternal key to life and could now belong as children of God Almighty. They had begun to grasp what His Son had died to give. People were choosing life. They were being immersed in living water, falling facedown on holy ground to worship a living God and forsaking their empty treaties with unknown gods. They weren’t settling for just an existence. They wanted more. And He had more to give. He had so much to give, He poured Himself into all the cavities He had once left hollow for Himself to fill. And someday soon He would gather His creation around Him. The world He had breathed into being would fade away, and once again, He and His people would be together, a new garden, a new Eden, fellowshipping, together.
Thoughtfully, the Creator knew that sin would never be abolished on earth. As long as mankind had to contend with His enemy who was hellbent on destroying Him, there would always be deep darkness and death of the soul. Sad, really, the Lord God, mused, that humanity had to pay the price for the enemy’s jealousy. Sadder still that His Son had to pay the ultimate sacrifice. But the enemy was on the prowl, anxious to devour anyone who stood with the Lord, and while it was just a game to the enemy, it was life or death to the Father’s children. It was love that birthed them and love that destroyed for them; love that changed them and love that saved them and love that soon would return for them and bring His children to Him.
His Son had bridged that gap, making it possible for the people to come to the Father with anything they carried, anytime the need arose. Conversation with God the Father was on the tongues of the people as they bowed in prayer, following the example of the great Intercessor Who had taught them to pray, “Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Tears would stream from the eyes of His children as they murmured, “Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Lifting enraptured faces heavenward, they would conclude, “And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory. Forever, God. Amen.” This is undeniable Love, His heart beat within Him as He felt peace come to His people.
During the month of February,
come with me as we JOURNEY through
the greatest LOVE STORY ever written.
