eternal life (John 3:16)

For many, Easter stirs memories of family gatherings, chocolate bunnies, egg hunts and the traditional church visit.

“Ready, set, GO!”

But the roots of Easter form the core of Christianity. Easter is a celebration of God’s unconditional love.

God loves you and offers a wonderful plan for your life:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” –John 3:16
In regards to a full and meaningful life, Jesus said: “I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.” –John 10:10

First the Bad News

Ever since Adam and Eve sinned, we have all inherited the sin nature. Because of our stubborn self-will our fellowship with God has been broken. Our sins—both active rebellion and passive indifference— have separated us from God: his love and plan for our lives.

“All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” –Romans 3:23
Because God is holy and just He will punish sinners: “The wages of sin is death,” [spiritual separation from God]. –Romans 6:23

But God doesn’t want to leave us in our wretched sinful state. From Genesis to Revelation, His sovereign plan enfolds.

God’s Provision

God’s provision for our sin is Jesus Christ. We can know and experience God’s love and purpose for our lives through Him.

Jesus died in our place: “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” –Romans 5:8
Jesus rose from the dead: “Christ died for our sins. . . He was buried. . . He was raised on the third day, according to the Scriptures . . . He appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred.” -1 Corinthians 15:3-6

Jesus Is the Only Way to God

Jesus bridged the gulf that separates us from Him when He died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins.

Jesus said: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” -John 14:6

But it’s not enough just to know these truths.

We must individually receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Then we can know and experience God’s love and purpose for our lives. “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” -John 17:3

God’s offer of salvation and fellowship is a free gift that we receive in Christ through faith: “By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works that no one should boast.” –Ephesians 2:8-9

“As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.” -John 1:12
We experience a new birth when we receive Christ. (See John 3:1-8.)

Salvation

Salvation is not dependent upon our emotions, nor does it stand alone on intellectual agreement. Receiving Christ is as an act of the will through faith. Repentance involves removing self from the throne to placing God on the throne of one’s life. When we place Christ on the throne of our heart, He offers peace and joy, even when circumstances would dictate otherwise.

My prayer for you—if you have never entered into a relationship with God—is that you would seize this moment. The following is a suggested prayer, (although God isn’t as concerned about your words as He is with your heart’s attitude): “Lord Jesus, thank you for dying on the cross in my place. Please come into my life as my Lord and Savior. Thank you for giving me eternal life and forgiving my sins. Help me to be the person you desire.”

For more questions about life and God please visit: EveryPerson.com. Also, the following sites are helpful resources in getting to know Christ better: Cru.org, StartingWithGod.com.

For those of us who have already placed our trust in Christ, may we continue to grow in Him, be thankful for Christ’s sacrifice, and share the reason for our hope with others.

By the time Lot reached Zoar, the sun had risen over the land. Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens. Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, including all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land. But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.” Genesis 19:23-26

Genesis 19 seems more like a Hollywood scene than a real historical account with its action packed drama. I find myself both disgusted and intrigued after reading this chapter.

In review of Genesis 18:16-23, the Lord—along with two angels in the form of men—visit Abraham and share the news of God’s impending judgment upon wicked Sodom. Although Abraham prayed/negotiated for God to withhold destruction on Sodom and Gomorrah if ten righteous people could be found there, which God conceded, this small remnant apparently didn’t exist.

Aside from feeling like a movie, Genesis 19 gives us a snapshot of the Sodomites—and Lot’s—moral decay.

You may read Genesis 19:1-29 here: Bible Gateway.

The two angels find Abraham’s nephew, Lot, at Sodom’s gate. His presence there implies that his social and political goals have been realized since this was a place of authority and status.

There is no indication that Lot recognizes these men as angels. But like Uncle Abraham, he extends gracious hospitality and insists they stay at his house instead of in the square.

“Urged them persistently” (NET) translates from a Hebrew verb meaning “to press; to insist.” Layman’s Bible Commentary notes: “This word [persist] ironically foreshadows the hostile actions of the men of Sodom, where they pressed hard against Lot and came near to break the door (19:9).”

(source: christianpf.com)

Lot’s hospitality and attempt to protect his guests seem noble, at first anyway. But offering his virgin daughters to the males outside in place of his guests show his rapid plunge down sin’s slippery slope.

As the lust hungry mob presses hard against the door, the men/angels pull Lot back inside while striking the guys with blindness.

“The word used to describe the blindness these men experienced (19:11) is a rare word that may indicate ‘a dazzled state,’ or a combination of partial blindness and a kind of mental bewilderment. Yet, despite their physical blindness, these men and boys persist to the point of weariness in their effort to satisfy their sexual cravings. . . . When the guests/angels explain to Lot the fate of the city the word translated destroy is the same word used twice in Genesis 6:13 of the judgment of the flood (19:13).” – Layman’s Bible Commentary

Although the angels warn Lot of the devastating consequences of sin, his attachment to this life is difficult to release (19:15-22; 1 John 2:15-17). But in God’s mercy—probably influenced by Abraham’s prayer—the men/angels grasp Lot, his wife, and daughters by the hands and safely lead them out of the city.

Flee for your lives! Don’t look back!” (19:17)

Lot’s wife doesn’t want to go either and she looks back. “The word translated ‘looked back’ signifies an intense gaze, not a passing glance” (Layman’s Bible Commentary). Reluctance and disobedience are her demise as she turns into a pillar of salt.

This section ends with Abraham witnessing the dense smoke rising from the plains that God destroyed. Lot and his daughters narrowly escape by God’s grace.

Reflect

Are we trying to move forward with God while holding onto pieces of our old life/sin? God demands we let go in order to move forward with Him (Luke 11:23; John 15:5-6).

Many argue: A loving God would never fire down judgment and/or send anyone to hell.

As difficult as this truth is, God—completely perfect in morality—hates sin. He has and will judge sinners. The consequence of our sin is death/hell – eternal separation from Him (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; Revelation 21:27).

But praise God that He is just as thorough in His mercy for those who love and trust Him as He is severe in His judgment (Romans 6:23; 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 3:36). He graciously provides forgiveness of sins through Jesus Christ to those who repent (1 John 1:9; Romans 5:8; John 3:17) and longs to transform us with His abundant, eternal life (John 3:16).

Where are you in relation to God?