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January 2
LOOK AND LIVE
by Ray Prinzing
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must
the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believe in Him, should
not perish, but have eternal life."
[John 3:14-15]
Israel was murmuring and
complaining again during their wilderness journey, and God sent
fiery serpents among the people, correctional chastening. Then
Moses was instructed to make a serpent of brass and put it on a
pole, and whoever was bitten by a serpent, when he looked at the
brazen serpent, he lived. So also Christ was lifted up on the pole
(cross), and now whosoever looks to Him, believes in Him, shall
live.
Jesus foretold in the
latter days, "men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking
after those things which are coming on the earth." [Luke
21:26]. This looking at the negative conditions is devastating.
"And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax
cold." [Matt 24:12]. To see natural conditions - wars and
rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes, floods, fires, is hard enough
to cope with, but when combined with the abounding of iniquity the
view is enough to case "heart failure."
BUT THERE IS ANOTHER
VIEW, and Jude writes, verse 21 of "looking for the mercy of our
Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." And Jesus instructed
that "when these things begin to come to pass, then LOOK UP, and
lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. [Luke
21:31].
One can see all the evil
abounding and become despondent and afraid, or they can look "unto
Jesus the Author Finisher of our faith," and LIVE. Paul joyously
proclaimed that "where sin abounded, grace did much more abound."
[Romans 5:20]. Therefore, we look for new manifestations
of His grace to super-abound and counter-balance all negative
expressions. Looking for His mercy, looking for His grace,
looking for the redemption drawing nigh.
What seest thou? I hear
the answer which He gives to me,
I see in Christ a full salvation, perfect victory.
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