RENDEVOUS WITH DESTINY

RENDEVOUS WITH DESTINY “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you” (1 Peter 1:18-20 KJV) There is no doubt about it. Jesus was born to die! His death for our redemption, was determined by God before the foundation of the world. Since it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin (Heb. 10:4), we therefore conclude that every animal sacrifice from Eden onward testified in advance that someday Jesus would by one sacrifice take away sins forever (Heb. 10:12). Centuries before it happened Isaiah saw clearly that Jesus would be brought to His death like a Lamb to the slaughter. God would lay upon Him the iniquity of us all (Is. 53:1 - 12). When Jesus was a baby Simeon saw that someday a sword would pierce through the soul of His mother (Lk. 2:35). John the Baptist, who prepared the way for His coming, saw Jesus and announced “behold the Lamb of God Who would take away the sins of the world” (Jn. 1:29). Someone said that rivers are crooked because they take the easy way around obstacles, and people get crooked in the same way. The Jews feared the people (Mk. 11:32, Jesus feared God (Heb. 5:7). Consequently Jesus always did those things that pleased His Heavenly Father (Jn. 8:29). When Jesus first announced clearly to His Disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer many things, be killed, and raised again, Peter began to rebuke Him (Matt. 16:21, 22). Jesus, however, would not be derelict in His duty. He correctly saw Peter as an adversary who was beset by worldly thoughts. As the time of His departure drew near Jesus set His face steadfastly toward Jerusalem (Lk. 9:51). No man would take His life, He would willingly lay it down in obedience to God (Jn. 10:18). When Calvary was only a few hours away Jesus went into Gethsemane to pray. His soul was exceedingly sorrowful even unto death. His sweat was like great drops of blood falling down to the ground . Since His disciples were sleeping God sent an angel from heaven to strengthen Him in His hour of need (Lk. 22:43, 44). At the risk of being insensitive, death on the cross was perhaps the easy part of His assignment. The”cup” which God gave Him to drink contained all the sins in all the world. Every lie, every rape, every murder, and multiplied millions of other despicable sins went into the cup. Him, Who knew no sin, God make to be sin that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Cor. 5:21). “It is finished” were among the last words Jesus spoke as he was dying. He had faithfully done everything God commanded Him to do. It was finished! Because Jesus was faithful until death He endured the cross because of the joy that was set before Him (Heb. 12:2). By contrast, there was no joy in the death of Judas Iscariot (Matt. 27:3 - 10) Judas quit and Jesus didn’t! The Bible reminds us that it is appointed unto every man once to die and after this the Judgement (Heb. 9:27). You may not be good at keeping appointments, but death is one appointment you cannot avoid. Solomon reminds us that there is a time to be born, and a time to die. When your time comes, you will have no choice. Today, however, you do have a choice. The Bible teaches that it is better to not make a vow, than to vow and not keep it. Most people, deep in their hearts, know what God wants them to do. In the long run, the way of transgressor is hard but in the short run it is easy to postpone until tomorrow the duty that God expects of us today. Jesus had a rendevous with destiny, and so do we! The death of Jesus brought joy because He was faithful! If we are faithful in our rendevous with destiny, our death will also be filled with joy!