When God created man in His image (body, soul, and spirit), He did so in order to share His love, His Joy, and His Glory–because He had such overflowing love and joy that He desired to lavish it upon someone who could experience and feel the intensity of wonder, greatness and envision His Glory. Were mankind a mere robot, devoid of choice and devoid of a full range of emotion; then, he would be incapable of feeling ecstasy. In that same light, if I never knew what sorrow was or loneliness could I understand joy? If I never felt the empty void within my heart that only God could feel would I ever understand or know the peace and comfort found in my relationship with Him? Adam had never known a day without God’s presence until the day Adam’s love for Eve lured him to disobey God. Eve had been tempted, she wanted to become equal with God. Sin is often man putting himself in God’s place. Adam remembered what God had said; yet, Adam loved Eve more than he loved God at that moment and was willing to face whatever punishment for disobedience with her. Still, that very act which separated them from God (they died spiritually) resulted in their loss of joy and love which then resulted in their own discord between each other. Thus began their first argument as they began their blame game of accusations. Without God indwelling spirit, Adam’s love for Eve was then changed to disgust and disdain as he blamed her for his own sin. Ever since then, man has still tried to say or prove that he can reach God-likeness on his own. Sometimes in defiance saying, "I don’t need you God; look at what I can do on my own" or "Look at how good I am, wouldn’t you want me in your kingdom." Either one of these statements out of covetous, self exalting hearts fail to see the glory and righteousness which is truly God. Because mankind continuously wanted to prove his own worthiness of heaven (though he is no more than a speck of sand in the magnificent universe created by God); God gave the law which merely proved man’s inability to perform and served as a means to help man recognize and acknowledge his sin. Sometimes that sin being one of commission and at times a sin of omission (failure to do what is required of us). The law could never save anyone because no man of his own actions and thoughts could perform the perfect law both with action and with heart. God knew this and even before Adam sinned God had a plan for man’s salvation. The only righteousness that counts with God is that which comes from God because only God is perfect righteousness; yet, perfect righteousness requires perfect justice. God’s love was so great, His desire to lavish His joy and love on all who would accept His gift by faith resulted in His paying the price through the sacrifice of Christ’s death on the cross so that He could accept the blood of His own son (the body of the trinity–while the Father is the soul and the Holy Spirit the Spirit). Thus he created the great exchange; He takes all my sin and gives me His righteousness. So if sin is man putting himself in God’s place, Salvation came as God took our place, our penalty, our suffering and our pain. His desire is to lavish upon us His love, His joy and His glory–that we might understand the overwhelming ecstasy of what a relationship with Him means. We can only do that by having our eyes opened to see a glimpse of His Glory that we might desire it. Now, read the following verses slowly, carefully grasping the truth of His word.
Romans 3: 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
With such great love demonstrated, how can I desire anything more than I desire Him? How can I love anyone more than I love God? Each day I fall on my knees, for His Grace still amazes me and His love is still a mystery. Every day I fall deeper in love with Him?
Do you know Him? Have you ever come to Christ to say, I am a sinner with a deep void in my heart. I know that I am unworthy of you; but I believe your word which says that if I confess my sins and trust in your propitiation for my sin; you will save me. I believe that you are the creator of the universe and I believe that Christ died for my sins and I long to have a vibrant relationship with you; so I hand you my sins, my covetous heart, my selfish desires and I believe as your word says that you will come into my heart to dwell with me. Thank you. In Jesus name I pray and all my hope stands, Amen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNJGhq8PPRs (Preview)