The End in Mind

We should take precautions to protect our children and ourselves in schools and churches. These actions are merely prudent. However, this will only address the symptom rather than the disease. Jesus said that we would have tribulation in this world. The world is full of evil and that evil will find a way of committing heinous acts. This could bring us to despair if not for the fact that Jesus ended the previous statement with, "But be of good courage, I have overcome the world." Jesus is the answer to the evil in the world. He has given us the responsibility of sharing Him with the world. He has promised that we would do more than He did by seeing more people come to know Him. People are changed by a relationship with Jesus. The responsibility is on us to share Him with the world.

The Just and the Justifier

Is Jesus sacrifice on the cross an act of God's justice or an act of God's mercy? The answer is "yes." Justice is served when Jesus died on the cross. Mercy was given to us because Jesus died on the cross. God gives us mercy every day of our lives. That won't be true when we leave this world. Our works will never earn us our salvation but they will definitely earn us our condemnation. God is both the just and the justifier.

There Is a Fountain

The Ark of the Covenant contains the Ten Commandments. They represent the righteousness of God and stand as a condemnation against all mankind since all have sinned. The Ark is covered by a lid called the "Mercy Seat." Jesus is that Mercy Seat whose blood would be spilled to quell the wrath of God. He has been put forward by God to be a propitiation for those who receive Him by faith. The story is one that bring peace to the believer for there is no peace in the lives of those who have no relationship with God.

The Glory of God

We were created in God's image. That image included His glory. Sin caused that image to be marred. We have fallen short of His glory. Yet, God seeks to restore His glory within us. So, Jesus is justifying us by giving a gift without regard to what we do. Jesus died for everyone: even the people who will never trust in Him. He died for those who were making themselves His enemies. Thus, He redeems us so that we will again reflect God's glory.