Love That Forsakes
First of all, let me apologize for the computer problems that have delayed this latest devotional.
This past Sunday I had the pleasure of speaking at a men’s prayer breakfast
at a local church. As usual, the
blessings I received from God far exceeded anything I had to give.
It was a wonderful group of men and I had the pleasure of being able to
talk to the pastor of the church, a real man of God.
He shared with me something I would like to share with you.
As we were eating breakfast, he leaned across the table and ask me a question,
“Why do you think God had to forsake Christ when He was on the cross?”
A very good question and one we have all thought of many times.
One of Christ’s last statements was, “My God, why has thou forsaken
me?”
Of course I gave my thoughts on the question, but when the pastor shared his
answer with me, I thought, “Of course!”
Allow me to share his answer with you.
Jesus was man, and Jesus was God…one and the same…a man in flesh, but
filled with the spirit of God. We
know that God never dies…He says, “I am the alpha and the omega…the
beginning and the end.” He was
here before there was anything, and will be here for eternity.
God sent His Son to the cross and it was necessary for Christ to die for our
sins. Because God can not die, it
became necessary for His spirit to leave Jesus so Jesus could die.
As long as God’s spirit resided in Christ, He could not die.
So…God’s spirit left Jesus on the cross…so He could die for me
and you. Jesus cried out, “My
God, my God, why has thou forsaken me.”
Shortly thereafter Jesus say, “It is finished,” and He dies as all
men do.
Every day I live, I have a greater understand of God’s love for me.
Many times that love comes through people, but the greatest realization
of that love is through Jesus Christ and what He did for me on the cross.
To think that God loved me so much that He allowed His son to die
alone…for me…that is overwhelming. God
forsaken love for His son has redeemed me and reconciled me to the Father
though the Son.
Though Christ, we have the presence of God in us.
And though we too will die a physical death, God’s spirit will live
in us forever.
Thanks be to God for His forsaken love to each of us through Jesus Christ, our
hope, our joy, and our purpose in life.