So what is this Greater Purpose I keep talking about? Why am I so obsessed with it???
Well that's easy, its the reason we are all here!
The Bible is one amazing book, if you ask me, and it's full of a lot of amazing stories. To some they are just too crazy to believe. A man being swallowed whole by a whale... then spit back out, no harm done... people being healed of birth defects and blindness and broken or useless limbs becoming like new... donkey's talking, a Red Sea Parting, a whole earth flooding... it was crazy!
What if you let yourself believe the things of the bible? The good and the bad? The stuff that scares you and the stuff that you crave and desire most? What's so wrong with believing in it? Why is everyone so scared of it?? It really is strange to me that a book of books is considered dangerous to some and a myth to others. Its a lifeline, or a table leveler. Some read it as a last resort, some read it as the only way they've ever known.
But there's something to be said here.. there's no way this book means nothing.
From Genesis to Revelation this book is the beginning of one thing and the end of another. Jewish literature teaches the first part, also known as the Old Testament, but refused the second part... the New Testament.
Why? Because of Jesus.
The Gospels tell a story about a man born to a virgin, from an immaculate birth in a time when life seemed to have lost all hope for a Great people. These people were set apart by God Himself, as a Light to the World. They were the shining example of God's love and faithfulness. But these people messed up. They became prideful and convinced of their own importance. They believed that God only loved them, they didn't pay attention to stories such as the one of Rahab who helped Joshua's spies by hiding them from the King. She wasn't a Jew, yet she craved the love and protection of their God, and didn't stop until she got it. And not only did she become adopted into the family of the Jews, but she was an ancestor in the line of King David! And Jesus Christ!
There's something to say about that! Maybe there is no special people in the way that it's been told. The way I read it those people were supposed to be a shining example of Who God Is but instead they acted like completely spoiled brats. Having to be told constantly that they needed to change or else God would cut them off... What do I mean? Well, there are books included of Prophets who were sent to the Jews to speak on God's behalf. These men (and women) were sent to deliver a message. Most messages were about God's grace, but there were many about His disappointment. 16 books of Prophets telling about the failing of people and the coming of something new that would change the old ways. Because the old ways failed too. People weren't getting it. They knew what it would take to have God's favor.. the sacrifices and the rituals were pretty set in stone. God didn't stutter. But the amount of sacrificing is kind of disgusting. Have you ever smelled blood before?? It's gross. I can't even believe the Israelite's were okay with that.
But honestly, they did what needed to be done to be right with God.
But at some point I think they realized it was impossible for them to keep it up. Why? Well because it was too easy to mess up. There was so much to constantly be making up for and it got to a point where I'm sure they felt discouraged.
Living as the Chosen People of God wasn't exactly cake. They had a lot of ground to cover and some major life choices to make that would set them apart. If they lived as God's Holy People maybe others would want to live that way too. I'm thinking that was the point. But instead it was used against others.
Wars were fought, lives lost, and still the same thing.
Then the line of communication between man and God went quiet. For 400 years. Things were being set into motion in that time period, and the faithfulness of God seemed gone, but it wasn't. A great place for a quick explanation of some things that happened during that time can be found on www.bibleview.org check out 400 Silent Years.
But the coming of a Savior was on its way. Near the end of the Silent Years is when Jesus came into the picture. Some scientists of the time (in the bible they were referred to as Magi) were following the words of the prophets and noticed the change in the constellations one day and decided to follow them. By the time they had reached the birthplace of Jesus He would have been two years old. The King was pretty mad about this baby being foretold as great King.. he got so jealous he sent to have all male babies 2 and under to be murdered so God told Joseph (Jesus' earthly father) to flee from there.
30 years after Jesus' birth was the start of His ministry. For 3 years Jesus spent His earthly life healing bodies, minds, and spirits. He taught with authority. He spoke with wisdom. And He brought a new kind of thinking that messed with the thinking of the Jews.
So they plotted His death. And when Jesus was ready He let them murder Him. Why? Because that was the plan. A plan set far before the scene of the Cross. A plan that started in a garden, with a man a woman and a serpent.
When you look back over the span of time it seems that all things up to the time of the cross were tense. There was battle going on, and it wasn't pretty. But the battle was on the inside of the humans, not the outside. The fighting that raged was anger, depression, fear, jealousy, laziness, coveting, and more. From these feelings we can see why King David had a man murdered after sleeping with the man's wife.. feelings can be pretty powerful. And can lead to some bad decisions..
Like the first bad decision. Eating from the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. And what knowledge was gained by eating from that tree? Genesis 3:7 "At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves."
Feelings. They were made aware of the bad feelings they could feel. Toward themselves.
Could you imagine a world without bad feelings? With only the Fruit of the spirit? Which happens to be Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and SELF-CONTROL. (couldn't help myself.. that's one that most people are not capable of, including myself).
This would be why Jesus allowed Himself to be murdered on the cross. To tip the scale in OUR favor. The serpent plays dirty and what he did was bring something into our lives that isn't meant to be there. That's why all those negative feelings feel so wrong! They shouldn't be a part of our life!
The Cross changed things. It's a GIANT gesture, on our behalf, to tell us we don't have to fight this alone. In fact, we're not only going to win, the battle's already over. We need only accept the gesture by faith, and live as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Follow His words and ways, and trust that God's plan is deeper than loving us... He's got a plan to use us to remove this serpent once and for all.
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