Beacon2Light

from BuzzFeed animals Imagine the scene, once again the lamb is brought. Such a cute little animal, bleating, wiggling to be set free. He seems born to run and frolic and play. Yet not today, not ever again. The blade is placed across his tiny throat and with one swift motion, the lamb is lifeless and his blood pours out. Every year, this must happen. Over and over again, blood must be shed. How the priest, let alone the people, must have longed for the day when one final sacrifice, one last grisly offering would do the job once for all. It was likely the intent of God to build this longing into the hearts and minds of His people. For it was His intention all along to do just that. In Christ, there is one last grisly sacrifice. A man would be offered. One that people could look at and say, "Why? What has He done deserving of death?" Yet, when He cried out that final time on the cross, it was over. The blade could be put away. No more killing would be necessary. As He sa...

Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:39-43 (NKJV) Too often this is how people try to come to Jesus.  "If You are the Christ . . . "  That's not saving faith, that's doubt and even finger-pointing.  Such a person is saying that I won't believe in God unless He does this or that for me (or in front of me).  It's not about trusting; it's about doubting.  It's not even about evidence, because such a person isn't looking for a reason to believe but for justification in not belie...