The Source of Everlasting Life
"for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see. Everything was created through him and for him." Colossians 1:16 (NLT)
The entire revelation of Christ serves one sacred purpose: to create a place called Calvary. The cross represents more than an instrument of execution; it is a place of surrender and transformation, where veils are removed and souls are forever changed.
The Dark Hour: When the World Conspired
"So Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples, and he went to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them." Luke 22:3-4 (NLT)
From that moment, a cascade of betrayals unfolded with supernatural precision.
The world seemed to go blind with hatred. Hearts that should have recognized truth became clouded with inexplicable rage. The signs were everywhere:
Peter, a devoted follower, denied knowing Christ three times despite his passionate vows of loyalty. The religious leaders who should have recognized their Messiah conspired against Him instead. Crowds who had shouted "Hosanna" and witnessed miraculous healings suddenly screamed "Crucify Him!" with bloodthirsty fervor. Even Pilate and Herod, longtime enemies, found common ground in opposing Jesus.
Perhaps most chilling was the moment when Pilate washed his hands, declaring his innocence in Christ's death. The people responded with terrifying enthusiasm: "Let His blood be upon us and our children!" They demanded the release of a criminal rather than the Son of God. ( Matthew 27:25-26). These events reveal something deeply unsettling about human nature when spiritual darkness descends. The god of this world has the power to cloud minds, preventing people from seeing the glory of God.
"Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God." 2 Corinthians 4:4 (NLT)
This blindness persists today. When many hear the preaching of the cross, something in their spirit becomes irritated, resistant, even hostile. This is not mere intellectual disagreement or philosophical difference. It is a spiritual blindness, a covering of darkness that can only be removed in one place: Calvary, where the blood of Jesus flows eternally for the remission of sins.
The suffering endured on the path to Calvary was so intense that scripture records Christ being "terrified unto the point of death" in Gethsemane.
"He told them, 'My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.'" Matthew 26:38 (NLT)
Yet even in that moment of unimaginable anguish, He prayed, "Let Your will be done."
"My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done." Matthew 26:42 (NLT)
There is a subtle truth hidden here: this is exactly how the Father feels when we turn away from Him. The pain of betrayal by the world He created, the world that hated Him to the point of death, this is the depth of love that brought Christ to the cross.
The Necessary Death
"And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you." Romans 8:10-11 (NLT)
Paul was discussing here the reason why we need to be dead to sin and not dead because of sin. There are two analyses we can give about this death we talk about. Spiritual death comes because of sin. If anyone lives in sin he is dead to God because the spirit of the Father abided not in him. Eternal life comes through Jesus Christ which is given by His Spirit, and this same Spirit raised Jesus from the dead. So there is assurance that if we allow this Spirit in us we have life that Christ has promised us, and by having this life it sure means we are dead to sin. It is quite a simple logic, you cannot be alive in Christ and be living in sin or be living in sin and have eternal life that is promised by the Spirit. This makes finding Christ without reaching Calvary practically impossible. At Calvary, a necessary death must take place, not physical death, but death to sin and the love of this world. As Paul declared:
"My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20 (NLT)
This is the death we cannot escape if we desire everlasting life. It requires complete surrender, holding back no area of our lives. We cannot experience eternal life if we have not died with Christ at the cross. Consider the thief crucified alongside Christ. He met Jesus at Calvary and received the priceless gift of eternal life in his final moments. "And Jesus replied, 'I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.'" Luke 23:43 (NLT) This demonstrates that it is never too late to surrender at the cross.
Christ's words echo through the ages:
"If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it." Matthew 16:25 (NLT)
What He requires is not complicated: we must sacrifice the love of the world, our lusts, our sins, our unfaithfulness, and allow Him to remake us.
The Torn Veil:
"So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most." Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)
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