“The Way”

06/04/08 18:00
If we could go back before the beginning of time, before the creation of anything that does exist, to a time when we could observe only God in His Holy solitude, we could then see that there was only one way that anything was done –God’s Way. When God created the heavenly angels He did it His Way. These angels were created for His pleasure and they loved Him freely. Everything was done God’s Way. Now, we witness a horrific scene. Lucifer (one of God’s covering cherubs) is found with wickedness in his heart. In his pride he tries to usurp God’s authority trying to make himself like the Most High. What we have just witnessed was a “way” other than God’s Way. Lucifer wanted to do something other than the Way God wanted it done. This was made possible because God created His angels as free moral-agents, i.e. they had a free will. So, now we have just witnessed where evil originated –it began in the heart of Lucifer. You see, when God decided to create free moral-agents He gave opportunity for another “way” to come into existence along with His Way. Don’t worry, God isn’t afraid that evil came into existence; if He were, free will would never have been created. (Do you see, that our free will is evidence for the sovereignty of God?) God is in full control and He always will be even through this temporary existence of evil. Let me explain something here: Evil can best be defined as a “way” other than God’s perfect Way. Therefore, any “way” other than God’s perfect Way is simply imperfect. David said, “The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.” So, it stands to reason that if anything is done in any “way” other than God’s Way, that way is unrighteous. Now, a “way” can be more unrighteous than other ways. A “way” that conforms closely with God’s Way is less unrighteous than a “way” that totally disregards God’s Way. God has told us that our ways were not His Ways. His Ways are higher than our ways. Isaiah said, “we, like sheep have on gone astray, each to his own way!” Because God’s Way is high and lofty, any “way” other than His Way is lower; this is why the Bible says that we have fallen from grace and come up short to the glorious Way of God.

The good news therefore, is that Jesus Christ came and lived perfectly to God for all mankind. He resisted doing things His way and resisted evil even to the point of death. This is why the Garden of Gethsemane was such an integral part in the salvation of man. Jesus cried out to God, “Not my will (way) but Thy will (Way) be done. Therefore, Jesus became God’s Way for the salvation of sinners and the only Way to God. This is the good news: God has made a Way for all of us to return to doing things God’s Way and He did it through the life, death and resurrection of His Only Begotten. Though we were made after the likeness of the first Adam, it is God’s Way that we shall bear the likeness of Jesus Christ. Yes, it is true and good –“As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless!” Ps.18:30

May His Spirit touch your heart this week! Pastor Jim
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