"This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward. They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen."
Okay...imagine me shouting this to you. I would put an exclamation point at the end of each sentence, but that might get annoying...but I wish you could hear the excitement in my voice as I write this to you this morning!
Wow. I am absolutely astonished when I read these words! Sometimes I so take for granted that Christ has already come! I know who the Messiah is, I know when He came, how He came, and where He was born. We all know the Christmas Story so well, don't we? But this morning, we have the opportunity in front of us to not take this knowledge for granted. Here we are asked to think about the prophets who spoke words from God that did not really make sense to them. There was no Christmas Story yet. Considering how the Jews can't believe Jesus is the Messiah because he wasn't a "king" like they pictured, I wonder if the prophets ever thought, "Lord, are you sure? You want me to tell people that their Messiah will ride in to save His people on a lowly donkey rather than a stunning stallion? And be born not in a palace, but in a hole-in-the-wall barn? What?!"
Let us remember that these questions were only answered about 2,000 years ago, long after many of these prophets had died. And look, Scripture even says that they were told their messages were not for them, but for us. What a sacrifice they made! Imagine spending your whole life writing down information that would be needed for at least 1,500 years in the future. Your whole life's work and passion would be left silent on a shelf for centuries.
But then...
But then, Christ would come in all of his simple glory, and we...WE would get to see that everything lines up exactly as the prophets wrote it thousands of years ago! The Good News is here, and we know it's true because of the work of the prophets of old who sacrificed their lives on earth so that we could know the Truth.
And I love this part..."it is all so wonderful, that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen." We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses (Hebrews 12:1), and they are watching us, up there in the bleachers, as we fight in the greatest battle of all time down here on the playing field. This is big! Can't you feel the weight of all this is and the amount of time this has been going on? You are playing a role in an enormous story that God is intricately and lovingly weaving in the scenes of eternity -- this is a battle for souls!
Let us keep fighting the good fight, my friends. The story you are a part of us thousands of years in the making, and it is not over yet. And we can live confidently in the midst of this battle because we know the ending -- we know who wins!
Where do you find yourself today? Are you fighting hard? Are you exhausted and needing a break? Or perhaps you, like the prophets, are not seeing the rewards of your work...at least not yet. But you will!
Let's wrap this up today with Hebrews 12:1-4...I would encourage you to read the whole chapter, and even chapter 11 so you can see the list of all the great people of faith who have gone and fought before you. Wow, I get chills even thinking about it. Read His words to you, and be strengthened...
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin."
You are on the winning team. Keep fighting!!
Love this!! Thanks for posting!
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