6-12-26 Weekly Devotional 6-12-26 – Why?
Recently, the question was asked – Given the wickedness of man, why does God
redeem man and impute righteousness to him? Answering his own question, the
questioner quoted John 3:16-17 which speaks of God’s love of man.“16 For God so
loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the
world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” The
questioner suggested that it is God’s love of man that moved/moves Him to redeem
man and impute to him, righteousness.
Certainly, his answer was/is correct as far as it goes, but God’s redemption of man
and imputing righteousness to him goes much deeper than that. It was/is for His
glory. We get a hint of this back in the book of Job. We read from Job 38:7 that
during His creative acts, including His creation of man the morning stars sang
together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy. Why? Genesis 1:26-27 answers
that question for us. 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image,
according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the
birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing
that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of
God He created him; male and female He created them.” Even they, the sons of God
(angels) had not been created in the image of God, after His likeness. In addition to
this, man was given dominion over all else of creation. Can’t you hear their
exclamation? “Wow!”
But one of their number, Lucifer in jealousy and wanton desire of the acclamation
of his fellows (the angel realm) said in his heart “13 I will ascend into heaven, I will
exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the
congregation On the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights
of the clouds, I will be like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:13-14) Writing of this
corrupted angel, the prophet Ezekiel was led to write: “12 Son of man, take up a
lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “You were
the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eden,
the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and
diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The
workmanship of your timbrels and pipes Was prepared for you on the day you were
created. 14 “You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were
on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones.
2
15 You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was
found in you”(Ezekiel 28:12-15).
Both passages describe two earthly kings but look past them to Lucifer (Satan).
Because of his jealousy of God and attempted insurrection he was cast out of heaven
and led a third of the angel realm (Revelation 12:3-4) with him. Being cast to earth
he went where he thought he could hurt God the most, into the garden where Adam
and Eve had been placed. He enticed Eve, who enticed Adam, to disobey God and
take of the only thing that God had prohibited, the eating of the fruit of the tree of
good and evil.
The apostle Peter writing to suffering Christians of the colonies of Rome reminded
them that angels were desiring to look into the things that God was accomplishing
for mankind. Their salvation. (1st Peter 1:12).
Turning the corner, so to speak, and turning to the book of Revelation we read “All
who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the
Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8).
The first part of the verse speaks about the Antichrist but the second part of the verse
(that which is underlined) speaks about the Lamb slain from the foundation (the
creation) of the world. Before his creative acts God had planned for man’s
redemption. He knew that man would step out of the right state of being in which he
was created and would need to be redeemed if fellowship between them could exist.
The Lamb mentioned of course is the Lord Jesus Christ, so identified by John the
Baptist in the gospel of John. He speaking of Jesus said to those with him: “Behold,
the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29)
We note in the Revelation passage that this Lamb was slain, was killed. For what
reason? The redemption of man. Remember John 3:16 &17? “16 For God so loved
the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should
not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world
to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
And earlier in John, John Chapter 1 we read: “1 In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with
God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that
was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men…. 14 And the Word
became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only
begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:1-4….14)
3
God Himself took on flesh for a purpose, so that He could die. God is Spirit and
cannot die, but as man He could, and did. Turning to the Book of Hebrews we read
> “12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered
the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption 13 For if the
blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies
for the purifying of the flesh, 14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who
through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your
conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:12-14)
And from Hebrews 10:1-5 we read “1 For the law, having a shadow of the good
things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same
sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach
perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers,
once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3 But in those
sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood
of bulls and goats could take away sins.5 Therefore, when He came into the world,
He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared
for Me.
Nothing less than the shedding of His own blood could satisfy God’s judgment
against sin. God, in the form of the Son of God took on flesh so that He stand in the
place of those who would turn to Him in faith and receive God’s forgiveness, pardon
and righteousness.
The same sons of God (angels) who witnessed His creation have been and forever
will praise the son of God for what He has accomplished. The defeat of Satan and
the redemption of man. We read from Revelation 4:4-11 and 5:8-15 >
4:4 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the
first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up
here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.” 2 Immediately I
was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. 3 And
He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there
was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. 4 Around the
throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders
sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.
5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps
of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 6 Before
the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and
around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. 7 The
4
first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third
living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying
eagle. 8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around
and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God
Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” 9 Whenever the living creatures give
glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and
ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and
worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne,
saying: 11 “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For
You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”
5:8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four
elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of
incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and
people and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall
reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around
the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten
thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud
voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!” 13 And every creature which is in
heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that
are in them, I heard saying:“Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who
sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!” 14 Then the four living
creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and
worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.
Redeemed, glorified man will join in this eternal worship and praise. So yes, God
loves man and redeems some to eternal glory, but the greater reason was/is for His
own glory. A testament of who He is. God of gods and Lord of lords.
Steve