Weekly Devotional 4-18-21 We Have not Been Left Alone
Many have claimed that God may have created all there is, but He is not actively involved or concerned with the affairs of men in this present age. However, Scripture refutes such claims. Revelation 13:8 for instance qualifies that Jesus Christ, the Lamb, was slain from the foundation of the world. Why was He slain in the mind and plan of God before His creative acts, if in truth He is not actively involved today? Why would God the Son, leave heaven’s glory and become a man in order that He could die on behalf of fallen man? John 1:1-4; 14, and Romans 5:1-19 read,
“1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4In Him was life, and the life was the light of men….. 14And 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).
“1Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8But God demonstrates His love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.10For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. 12Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— 13(For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. 15But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 16And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. 17For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) 18Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. 19For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:1-19)
Further, God is not finished. He is active today through and by His Spirit. He is the revealer of all divine truth. The Scriptures are especially the product of his work (Micah 3:8; John 14:26; 16:13; 1st Corinthians 2:10-13; 2nd Timothy 3:16). He moves upon the hearts and consciences of all men, attending revealed truth with His power affording some measure of divine light and gracious influence (Acts 2:17; John 16:8-11; and 1st Corinthians 2:4). He convicts men of sin, graciously aids them in repentance and faith, regenerates, comforts, and sanctifies believers. He bears witness to their acceptance with God and adoption as God’s children, and dwells in them as the principle of a new and divine life. He also exercises guidance in the ministrations of the Church, calling men to various offices, and endowing them with qualifications for their work (Acts 13:2; 1st Corinthians 12:4-11).
We are not therefore left alone. God is actively engaged with His creation. Presently He is calling out from among humanity a people with whom He will populate the new heaven and the new earth. He will continue this gathering until the last Gentile has been brought to salvation (Romans 11:25). He will then revive Israel and bring about this promise, “1Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— 32not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. 33But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” (Jeremiah 31:31-34).
Thank you, Lord, for not leaving us alone.
Steve
stevelampman.com stevelampman@comcast.net
Transforming Power; the Work of God on Behalf of Man