Twenty Four Seven

Heard quite an awe-striking word today. Spirit of wisdom and revelation certainly present this morning. Essentially, the pastor spoke on the last words of Jesus as he hung on the cross. I just gotta write it out!

So, everyone knows generally that sin causes us to be separated from God. And in the moment before Christ died, he carried the sin of every person for all time. Now I know the Gospel is usually shown in a way where WE as humans see the fruit- that Christ died so that we may live and have life to the full, that he has taken every blemish from us now and forever more, that with him we can have life eternal. But I want to instead focus on what Christ lost, rather than what we gained.

See, in that one moment, the sin of the world covered Christ, and God could not bear to look at His son. That leads to Jesus crying out "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Not only was Christ's pain immensely physical suffering, but this added emotional component made the biggest difference of all. Christ as he walked this earth was in full intimacy with the Father God at all times, and so to be taken for just a moment away from Him, it was unbearable.

Full intimacy, all times, 24/7. Intimacy with the Lord is something I only catch glimpses of, and how wonderful they are. But to imagine having relationship with God at all hours.. that's inconceivable to my mind. When Christ prayed in Gethsemane before the crucifixion, I think that he wasn't just praying that the cup of physical suffering be removed. I think that was the least of his worries. He did not want to have the Father turn his face away. It would just be too much to bear.

But praise God, we all know how the story went. After Jesus resigned himself to what he was to do, he did not hold anything barred. He did not pull himself down from the cross, destroy his persecutors, or even accept sour wine to dull the pain. Christ, though in every manner burdened by the sins of man carried them to the grave and returned to the side of the Father God. Truly, death cannot even separate us from the love of God (Rom 8:37-39). Amen!