My son, GOD Will Provide Himself A LAMB+ .....

Meditation on the PASSOVER LAMB+  
~ ~ ~  Our PASCHA+

 ~  ~  ~  The Conclusion  ~  ~  ~ 

A Story About The GREAT EXCHANGE 

Adapted and condensed from James Ramsey Ullman's 

"TOP MAN"  short story, 1953

under the Fair Use Act

Not for profit... except as it may profit the soul. 

( Story continued from yesterday... )

"Paul, I'll hold out my ax. When I say 'JUMP,' grab the ax head and jump to my ledge," Martin said, gasping for air. “I will pull you. There is enough room for both of us.”

Paul nodded, tensing for the jump.

Focusing intensely, Martin steadied his ax horizontally and immediately called

 "JUMP !"

 ... and Paul landed onto the narrow ledge, crouching down, hugging the rock with his toes and gripping the ax in his hands. The snow crust on which he had been standing had disappeared without a whisper.

But, 

in 

a 

simultaneous 

flash .  .  . 

... as Paul landed, a blurred figure hurtled out into that vast blue space over the ledge. 

The rope tied around my waist jerked me hard into near convulsions... then suddenly... my pain was gone.  

Numbly, I saw our yellow climbing rope dangling in mid-air, the frayed end swinging freely to and fro... to and fro ... where Martin should have been.

 Paul, stunned, looked stupidly at the ax that only he held in his hand now.

I remained crouched down, pinned to the ground in numbness. Paul inched his way toward me, off the slim ledge.

Finally, Paul said flatly, "I'm going up. Do you want to come?" I shook my head and remained motionless, crouched for an hour? two hours? four hours?

I lost track of the time before I heard Paul --- haggard, spent, clothing shredded --- returning, without emotion, toward me from the other direction. 

"Did you reach the top?" I dully asked, not caring.

"No," Paul said, woodenly. "I didn't have what it takes."

With little talk, we grimly returned to camp 7 and camp 6 and all the rest of the camps until our expedition reached safety, minus one mountaineer. No more expeditions were tried that year for K3. 

In later years another expedition did strive to be the first climbers to reach the top of K3 … only to find a climber’s ax buried in the top of K3’s peak. 

Engraved on the old ax head were the words, 

"to Martin from John."

+  +  +

 The Great Exchange

Who was Paul?

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed Paul... except when he snapped out criticism to Martin's well-tempered decisions. Paul, who chafed under the restraining decisions, only controlled himself with great difficulty. 

Clever and skilled and well-trained, Paul had not yet seen the Unconquered Killer of Man devour the best of climbers, the best of friends.

His character revealed the sins of being bright ... with impatience,   of being exuberant... with Self-will,   of being well-skilled yet unsubmitting those skills to one with better judgment.  

Paul had unswerving goals but was unmindful of whom they hurt. He followed those deep desires only to fulfill his own ambition and glory.  Paul wanted to win, to feel superior. 

Indeed, he FELT superior.

Now change ...

that fateful ax into a cross.  Put CHRIST on the ledge instead of Martin. 

It is CHRIST JESUS, now, extending His+ Cross to Paul.

Exchange ...  

Paul’s face to yours... to mine … and you will see what it cost CHRIST to save you…. to save me … from our sins.   

Always, always chafing at His+ restraints, we will not stop ourselves.

Our sins … our stubborn self-will, our foolish pride in what we know,  our earthly skills, our rational rationalizing, our well-touted talents, and our adroit abilities …  put us out there on a deceitful ledge, of evaporating snow.   

Yes, it FEELS solid and looks solid --- to us --- but  no solid rock underneath our feet exists. 

Unfortunately, we are too blinded with Self to see that for ourselves.  The unseen abyss awaits us momentarily.

And worse, that unseen abyss is Eternal.

Forfeiting His+ Life is what it cost CHRIST --- like Martin ---  to deliver Paul, to pull him to safety. 

Unlike Martin, however, The LORD knew ahead of time what it would cost HIMSELF+ to rescue you... rescue me... rescue everyone of us human beings. 

Yes... HE+ knew ahead of time that HE+ was going to EXCHANGE His+ life for yours, for mine, for all ... while we were yet angry, proud sinners like Paul ... when HE+ extended His+ Cross to us.  

HE+ did it anyway. 

This is what our deliverance cost JESUS. 

 Every time you sin… every time I sin … 

are we 

crucifying CHRIST afresh? 

Are we repeatedly putting HIM+ to an open shame before all ... before the eyes of others .... and also before the unseen Watchers in the Heavenlies ?

CHRIST, better than Martin, knew the strength of the enemy awaiting to devour men. 

+  +  +

CHRIST died for you, Scripture says.

HE+ gave HIMSELF+ for your sins, 

that HE+ might deliver you 

from this present evil world

... and an eternity 

in the lake of fire.

HE+ did it all for you.

GOD, be merciful to me, a sinner.

+  +  +

LORD JESUS CHRIST, LAMB+ of GOD,

WHO+ taketh away the sin of the world, 

Have mercy upon me.

LORD JESUS CHRIST, LAMB+ of GOD,

BEARER+ of our sins, 

Have mercy upon me.

LORD JESUS CHRIST, LAMB+ of GOD,

SAVIOR+ of the world,

Grant me Thy+ Peace.

+

Passover Meditation #25 for the Lenten Season 2012 ( #24 repeated )

~ ~ ~ The Door of the Cross ~ ~ ~

I+

I+ AM

The Resurrection

and

The LIFE:

he that believeth

in ME+,

though he were dead,

yet shall he live.

John 11:25 Green's Greek Interlinear

How could those already dead believe in JESUS the CHRIST ?

Some, we know, did: Simeon the devout man awaiting the Consolation+ of Israel and Anna the prophetess of great age, who were both present in the Temple at His+ Dedication, John the Baptist, Joseph, the guardian ( Gowra, Aramaic) and husband of Mary. Perhaps Lazarus also, Mary and Martha's brother, believed in HIM+ since his sisters evidenced a strong belief in HIM+ as MESSIAH+. These all died knowing HIM+ ...but before Our LORD'S own death and resurrection.

Here, as recorded in John 11:25, Our LORD is looking ahead at what happened in those 3 days and 3 nights HE+ spent in the heart of the earth. (Mt. 12:40)

Well, what DID happen down there?

Sheol, the Old Testament word for "hell," was divided into 2 parts in the heart of the earth. One part was for the unrighteous ones who died in their sins. The other part was called "Abraham's Bosom" (See Luke 16:22).

[ Now, just a note on Abraham's Bosom. In the Old Testament, the bosom was configured as a CAVITY, a carrying-place. It was where one held to his chest things of value. Womenfolk would carry food and other precious items in their aprons, wrapping up the corners of their aprons around the items like a sack and carry the load CLOSE TO THEIR BOSOM. Thus, "Abraham's Bosom" in the heart of the earth was a CAVITY in the earth, filled with precious souls who had died in RIGHT standing with GOD.]

Our LORD spent 3 days and 3 nights down there, in the heart of the earth PREACHING to the DEAD who had died long before JESUS Our LORD was sent to the earth.

How do we know this?

Scripture tells us this

in 1 Peter 3:18, 19:

For CHRIST also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that HE+ might bring us to GOD, being put to death indeed in the flesh, but made alive in the SPIRIT; In which also HE+ went and preached unto the spirits in prison.

This Scripture tells us that JESUS Our LORD died a natural death in the flesh. When HE+ died, HE+ left His+ physical Body on the cross to be buried.

Now, we know The LORD JESUS never went into a jail, a prison, to preach. HE+ preached in many places, but never in an actual civil prison run by the Roman government, who had the authority over the prisons in Israel.

But rather, HE+ HIMSELF+ went in His+ SPIRIT into the heart of the earth... to preach to the dead !

Now THIS tells us some interesting facts:

   • "Death" was a prison from which no-one EVER left

    • it was located in the heart of the earth

   • the dead are simply gone unto ANOTHER PLACE ( either pleasant or bad)

   • the dead are not obliterated even though their bodies of clay are buried in the ground as "lifeless"

   • nor is their consciousness erased

   • nor have their emotions ceased

   • nor is their intellect diminished

Some OTHER Truths of GREAT interest are here also:

     • JESUS was intensely ALIVE the instant HE+ closed His+ eyes in death. We know this because HE+ had said... "It is accomplished, FATHER; into Thy HANDS I+ commit My+ SPIRIT."

     • HE+ left His+ dead, physical Body for 3 days and 3 nights

     • HE+ descended into the heart of the earth, into Sheol ( hell )

     • HE+ was not punished in hell but entered as a VICTORIOUS SAVIOR sent by The FATHER

     • HE+ asked no-one's permission to ENTER into the realm of the dead

    • HE+ asked no-one's permission to LEAVE the realm of the dead...

     • HE+ was busy for 3 days and 3 nights, as The FATHER sent HIM+ down there to preach.

Well, what did HE+ preach to this captive audience who could NOT leave the realm of the Dead ?

HE+ preached

the Good News !

I Peter 4:6 continues from the above Scriptures cited:

For unto this cause ALSO THE GOSPEL WAS PREACHED TO THE DEAD that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but MIGHT LIVE according to GOD in the SPIRIT. Green's Greek Interlinear

 

O Great REDEEMER+, O THOU+ Who+ had and still has the keys of Death and Hell, I thank THEE+ for dying on that mean Cross in order to break down the gates of Sheol, Hades, and hell in order to bring Life to those who had not the chance to hear the GOOD NEWS before they died.

Forgive me for forsaking the task of sharing this GOOD NEWS of victory over death with others.

Please forgive me of burying this "talent" entrusted unto me and keeping the GOOD NEWS locked up within my smug heart.

Forgive me for fleeing from my responsibility before GOD and man.

Cleanse me of the sin of Self-Preservation and help me instead to labor to Preserve those heading into Eternal Torments in hell and from thence, into the Second Death in the Lake of Burning Fire.

Help me , LORD JESUS, to proclaim this Victory over death, hell, and the grave to the Un-saved, the Lost, the Un-Redeemed amongst my family, friends, acquaintances, and even to strangers.

Passover Meditation #23 for the Lenten Season 2012

~  ~  ~ The Door of the Cross ~ ~ ~

Peter said:

And we,

we have believed

and have known that YOU+ are The CHRIST The SON+ of The Living GOD.

John 6:69 Green's Greek Interlinear

And Martha said:

Yea, LORD: I, I believe that

YOU+ are the CHRIST

The SON+ of GOD

which should come

into the world.

John 11:27 Green's Greek Interlinear

And JESUS said:

Truly, truly

I+ say to you,

the one

who hears MY+ Word

and believing

the ONE having sent ME+,

has Everlasting LIFE,

.

and does

not come into judgment,

. 

but has

passed out of death

into LIFE.

John 5:24 Green's Greek Interlinear

We believe The FATHER has sent HIS SON+, JESUS the CHRIST, into the world to give LIFE unto "whosoever will come" to HIM+.

.

We come on His+ terms with a Godly sorrow that:

• leads unto  repentance 
• which leads unto conversion
• through to the sanctified waters of Holy Baptism
• that leads unto our New Birth from above into CHRIST... making us New Creatures in CHRIST.  

Henceforth, we live unto CHRIST and die unto Self, through the means of our cross and through the Power of His+ Cross. 

To those who come on His+ terms, this entity called LIFE totally changes. Not only do we become New but all of LIFE becomes new to us.

We learn to do all sorts of new things:

• love others because HE+ first loved us,
• associate with the Lowly because HE+ associated with us,
• hate evil that we see in ourselves, instead of hating our neighbor.

And when we do these things,which is our part to do, the promise of GOD is this:

• We pass out of JUDGMENT and into Eternal LIFE, like the greatest insurance policy ever written because it is SURE and CERTAIN to occur. 

The vital point, though, is this: GOD knows when we believe unto obedience of heart instead of with our mind only... or because our culture makes us "christian...." or because our church or community membership makes us "christian..." 

No mind only, no culture only, no church only , and no community only constitutes faith in His+ eyes.

HE+ wants your heart.

. 

HE+ will not accept a substitute.

HE+ will allow you to experience everlasting death if you don't offer HIM+ the real thing: your total heart. 

HE+ will not accept a substitute, a decoy, a hollow commitment, a phony , a part of your life; HE+ wants it all... just like HE+ gives all of His+ heart to you. 

And if you try to deceive yourself, pretending you have given HIM+ all of  your heart,  you will receive your part in the Lake of Burning Fire and the Second Death with the devil, the false prophet, the beast, the fallen angels... and all those who love and make a lie, those who reject His+ Lordship over their lives. You cannot deceive HIM+.  

 

...HE+ 

will  not accept

a substitute

for your heart.

Passover Meditation #11 for the Lenten Season 2012

~  ~  ~ The Door of the Cross ~  ~ ~

Then JESUS said

unto them,

Verily, Verily I+ say

unto you,

Except ye eat the flesh of the SON+ of Man

and drink His+ Blood,

ye have no Life in you.

John 6:53

You have no life in you.

Just being born, you are born through the first Adam. You have the first Adam's ruined nature, which is to serve Self.  You will receive LIES in order to serve Self, like Adam did, like Eve did: you cannot help it, you will.

You will tell lies and blame others, like Adam did, like Eve did.

You will pursue fantasies and illusions all of your life, trying to fill yourself with Life... but they will all be lies. 

You MUST be born into the Second Adam, if you want Life.

Through CHRIST, the Second Adam, you must be re-born in order to partake of the Body and Blood of CHRIST. This is a great mystery.  The Bread and Wine are infused by the HOLY SPIRIT and thus sanctified.

You cannot lie to HIM+... HE+ knows what you eat and drink. Like the time that woman in the crowd who touched HIM+ in faith and virtue went out of HIM+ , 

HE+ knew. 

Yes, HE+ stopped immediately to talk to the one in all that crowd who had reached out to HIM+. 

HE+ knew.

You have NO CHOICE... if you want Eternal LIFE. 

.

If you refuse to choose Eternal Llife, then know this: you ARE choosing a constant eternal death that goes on and on in the Lake of Fire.  It, too, never ceases ...   just like Eternity with CHRIST never ends. 

.

Do not be tricked by satan who tricked Eve.

Do not be tricked by satan who tricked Adam. 

Do not be tricked by the same lies to serve Self.

Yes, your existence will not cease in death.  You will indeed be called to Judgment Day to find out that your worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched in the Lake of Fire...  forever. 

Just like

The LORD JESUS

said.  

Passover Meditation #10 for the Lenten Season 2012

~ ~ ~ The Door of the Cross ~ ~ ~

I+,

I+ AM

the Living Bread,

the ONE+ that came down out from Heaven;

If

anyone eat of this Bread+ , he shall live unto Eternity. And indeed, the Bread which I+ ,

I+ give

is My+ Flesh,

which I+ ,

I+ give

on behalf of the life of the world.  

John 6:51

The LORD JESUS CHRIST is the Living Bread+ send down to mankind from Heaven by The FATHER in HEAVEN WHO loves us.

.

Eternity itself lasts for all... both good and bad... a long, long time.

.

We on earth now are choosing WHERE we want to spend Eternity: in Heaven, with CHRIST JESUS Who+ loves us  --- or --- in the Lake of Fire with the devil, that old serpent, who constantly works to destroy us.  

.

It was the plan of Our HEAVENLY FATHER for Life to come back into the sons of the Adamic race through The Living Bread+, HIS SON+ JESUS CHRIST. 

All mankind is invited, person by person, to eat freely at The LORD'S table: there is room enough for all. All are invited to freely partake of this Living Bread+.

"And the Bread

that I+ will give

is My+ Flesh,

which I+ will give

for the life of the world."

This Living Bread+ gives Life; it is not dead food! Whosoever partakes of this Bread+ will live forever in Eternity... and not have to endure the Second Death. ( See #8 Passover Meditation).

.

Be careful, though.

This Bread+

has a mystery

about it.

.

If your heart is clean before GOD, that Bread+ does indeed give Life. But, if your heart harbors sin and is thoughtlessly partaking of that Bread+, instead of Life you receive DAMNATION UNTO YOUR SOUL ! (I Cor. 11). 

That Living Bread+ is infused

by The HOLY SPIRIT OF CHRIST...

and you cannot lie to HIM+.

(See Acts 5:1-11 as to what happens

to those lying to the HOLY SPIRIT...

sooner or later. )

Will you choose to experience

the First Resurrection

-- or --

the dreadful Second Death

in the Lake of Fire ?

Remember this:

Death is not an "oblivious state" of repose.  

Death is sure not oblivion in Hell [Hades.]

Death is not oblivion in the Lake of Burning Fire,

either.

Passover Meditation #8 for the Lenten Season 2012

~  ~  ~ The Door of the Cross ~  ~  ~

And

this is the Will

of the ONE WHO

has sent ME+,

that everyone

seeing the SON+

and believing,

trusting into HIM+

should have

Everlasing Life:

and I+ Will

raise him up

at the Last Day.

John 6:40 Green's Greek Interlinear 

+  +  +

Everlasting LIFE versus the Everlasting DEATH --- that Second DEATH ! Yes, there is a Lake of Fire recorded in Revelation 20:14. Who is cast alive into that burning, rolling Lake of Fire?

1.  the beast - Rev. 19:20 2.
2.  the false prophet - Rev. 19:20
3.  the devil ...after 1000 years of being tied up in the abyss and STILL NOT LEARNING HIS LESSON - Rev. 20:7 and 10
4. Death - Rev. 20:14
5. Hell [ Hades ] - Rev. 20:14
6. ANYONE ELSE NOT FOUND HAVING THEIR NAMES WRITTEN IN THE LAMB'S BOOK OF LIFE - Rev. 20:15

Now, just who are these people who are not found written in the LAMB'S Book of Life? These are described in Rev. 20: 12 and 13 .

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before GOD:

and the books were opened : 

and another book was opened, which is the book of life: 

and the dead were judged out of those things

which were written in the books,

according to their works.

And the sea gave up the dead

which were in it;

and death and hell delivered up the dead

which were in them;

and they were judged

every man

according to their works.

Now, just who were the people who were NOT included in verses 12, 13, and 15... and thus, WERE FOUND written in the LAMB'S Book of Life ? (Rev. 21:27)

• After the WORD+ of GOD arrived with His+ Heavenly armies and fought and WON THE BATTLE against the beast and the armies of the kings of the earth....
• and, after the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil and satan, was bound and cast into the bottomless pit for 1000 years... 

THEN...

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were

• beheaded for the witness of JESUS, and for the Word of GOD, and
• which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image,
• neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands;

and they lived and reigned

with CHRIST a thousand years.

But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 

.

Blessed and holy is he

that hath part in the first resurrection:

.

on such the second death hath no power,

.

but they shall be priests of GOD and of CHRIST,

and shall reign with him a thousand years.
Revelation 20: 4, 5, and 6 ( 7 is good too!)

+  +  +

So you see,

DEATH ITSELF

is NOT THE FINAL END

for anyone's soul !

 

Each and every person WILL face something ELSE AFTER DEATH. Each and every person WILL either be:

• resurrected
• receive glorified bodies, and
• join CHRIST as HE+ is returning to reclaim the earth, and
• reign with CHRIST as a Kingdom of Priests upon this earth

~  OR ~

 

called before GOD and,

• judged for doing bad works,
• judged because his name was NOT FOUND in the LAMB'S Book of Life, 
• and then face the SECOND DEATH
• and cast into of the Lake of Burning Fire.

+  +  +

Therefore, let us come boldly unto the Throne of GRACE, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16