On the tombstone of a celebrated and Christlike missionary, Dr. Robert Morrison, are these words: "I have sinned; I have repented; I have trusted; I have loved; I shall rise; and, through the grace of God, I shall reign." I wonder if he didn't base his testimony on 1st Peter 1:20 and 21.
Let's meet the Redeemer. God created man in His own image and His own likeness in order that He might have fellowship with him. He placed him in a gorgeous garden amid the most luxurious surroundings. At the beginning the communion between God and man was complete and cheerful. But God demanded perfect obedience, and this communion was conditioned by obedience. But man, a creature of choice, was tempted, and he sinned. Instead of choosing God's will, he chose his own way. He disobeyed the clear word of the Lord, and he plunged the human race, although yet unborn, into sin, suffering and separation from God. But this sin didn't take God by surprise. He knew man would sin, therefore He provided a Savior. It's written in 1 Peter 1:20, "Christ was verily foreordained before the foundation of the world." You see, God thought of redemption even before He thought of creation. Isn't this wonderful! Some people think of God as having created the world, and then, when man sinned, had to find a way to save him. But here we see that He was Redeemer before He was Creator. He had the salvation of your soul in mind long before the world began. Oh, His love is timeless as well as limitless; and it's not seen in creation as it is in Calvary. The other day my little niece said to me, "Uncle, I love you." "How much?" I asked. "A hug and a lot of kisses," she answered, as she threw her arms around my neck. But should you ask God, "How much do you love me?" He'd point not to creation, but to the cross, where Christ suffered for our sins, that He might save our souls.
Mark the resurrection. It's written in 1st Peter 1:21, "God raised Him up from the dead." That resurrection is well attested. How? By the word and the witnesses. After Christ died and was buried there was a tremendous earthquake. The earth reeled and staggered and tottered; and the angel of the Lord came down from heaven and rolled back the stone from the entrance of the tomb, breaking the seals that were put there by the soldiers. And the soldiers, guarding the grave, were literally paralyzed by fear and became as dead men. As the women drew near to the tomb, the angel of the Lord said at once to them, "Fear not...I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here...He is risen." "Oh," but you ask, "why was the stone rolled away?" Not to let the Lord out. He was already out. It was to let others look in. Let me illustrate. One evening my niece came to spend the night with us. We have a covered terrace, and our bedroom opens out into this terrace. There are drapes that cover the sliding glass doors, and we draw them as we prepare to retire. There's a yard light that comes on at dusk, and as it shines through the drapes, one can see shadows. On this particular night, as I was about to turn out the light in the bedroom, my little niece became just a little frightened. She wondered what was on the other side of the drapes. I could have told her that it was foolish for her to be afraid of any shadow, and that there was nothing to fear on the other side, but that wouldn't have helped much. So for her peace of mind I pulled the drapes aside, and the light came in. "See," I said, "there's nothing to fear." When I pulled the drapes, I didn't remove any evil, only the dread. So when the angel rolled the stone away, it wasn't to let the Lord out, but to let us look in and see that there's nothing to fear. For Christ defeated death, and because He was raised from the dead, all who believe in Him shall be raised from the dead.
Let's meet the recipients. According to 1st Peter 1:21, they are those "Who by Him do believe in God," and their "faith and hope" rests in God. When you have faith in God, through Christ, and by faith, I don't mean a head faith, but a heart faith, you'll have no fear about the future. For at death angels will carry your spirit and soul home to heaven. A little girl said to her friend, "I'd be afraid to die, wouldn't you?" But one day she put her faith in the Lord and was delivered from her fears. A little while later, after living for her Lord, she got awfully sick, and her friend came to see her. "Are you afraid now?" she asked. "Oh, no," she said in cheerful confidence, "I'm not afraid. Jesus will come for me." Hath He not said, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And since I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there ye may be also."
"In the house of many neither toil nor care shall come;
But His own, all His own, forever shall rest in that home.
"In that house of many mansions death shall never more molest,
But His own, all His own, shall be by their Lord fully blest."
copyright 2000 Guido Evangelistic Association
All Scripture verses are quoted from the New King James Version.
This series of messages on the books of the Bible were originally written for broadcast on Dr. Guido's radio program, "The Sower." They are collected and reprinted here for your enjoyment and spiritual edification. Go to the Sower's site for more at www.TheSower.com.
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