The Cross before Time

You know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your fore–fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 1 Peter 1:18-20.

The Lord God’s foreknowledge made Him well aware of Adam’s future act of treason in Eden. Being expelled from the garden would seem, on the surface, a mild rebuke rather than a judicial decree. The declaration about death also doesn’t appear to be very frightening. Only as the record unfolds do we gain an appreciation of the horror and dread sin unleashed. A question remained. How could the holy God still communicate with the expelled couple, and later, their offspring?

Strange though it may be the answer is given in the closing book of the Bible. Revelation 13:8b tells us that the Lamb (a title for Jesus) was slain from the creation of the world. God could only bear with Adam and his offspring because in God’s mind the Cross had already taken place. God was able to deal with humanity because He looked at them through the Cross. This is still the only way He can deal with the world. One day, in His time, the Lord will say, ‘It’s judgment time!’ On that day He won’t be looking at people through the cross. He will be assessing them from his throne!

In the book of Job, one of the friends makes a very pertinent quote, ‘How then can a man be righteous before God? How can one born of a woman be pure? If even the moon is not bright and the stars are not pure in his eyes, how much less man…’ (Job 25:4-6a). In Genesis 3 Adam and Eve tried to make themselves respectable to God by covering themselves with fig leaves. It was an attempt to camouflage their true condition. There was no repentance and there was no indication of sin’s action being atoned.

In Genesis 3:21 is the act of real atonement. The word atonement refers to a covering. ‘The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.’ This was provided so as not to be offensive to God and thereby be destroyed. The initiative was God’s. It cost the life of a substitute animal. Here is a shadow of God’s answer to the quote from Job: the only way to be righteous before God is for someone to pay the price for our covering.

When Revelation 13:8b speaks of ‘a Lamb slain’ the word for slain refers to an act of slaying for the purpose of sacrifice. Within the sacrificial system of ancient Israel animals were slain as a substitute for the individual or nation. The shadow cast by the sacrificial system of Israel is fulfilled in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Before time had begun the Godhead knew the consequences of creation mixed with freewill. God was willing to pay the price! The Lord was without sin. He fulfilled the requirements of the Mosaic Law. Therefore He was able to offer Himself as our atonement.

We are not automatically covered, and thereby protected, from God the Father’s justice. Faith must compel us to cry out to the Lord to forgive and to cover us. Only then are we fit to stand before Him. How beautiful is Galatians 3:26-27. ‘You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.’

Ray Hawkins

This is a day's devotional  from His book 'Captured by Calvary.'

http://rayhawkinsauthor.blogspot.com.au

Writing and the Ripple Effect

Another blog recently declared writing is not a waste of time http://christianwritersdownunder.blogspot.com.au/2014/03/its-not-waste-of-time-by-nola-passmore_31.html?showComment=1396393017724#c4508681362741438087 I found it, as I know others did, good to read because sometimes it can feel that way.  But often there a ripple effect from a piece of writing and God is working in ways we may not know about.

 

Several times I have bought a book after reading a review on either this site or one of the others Nola mentioned or on Goodreads. At one stage I bought several copies of one book, Deeper Places, after reading a review. I read it and loved it and hope those I gifted books to do too.

Just recently I gave a friend, two books for her birthday. One was the book mentioned above, which she hasn’t started yet. The other was Captured by Calvary by Ray Hawkins.  A little while after  her birthday I received a card from my friend  who said, ’Just had to drop you a line share how much Captured by Calvary has been such a source of enlightenment, conviction and challenges  this writer has given me these past 14 days. ‘  She intends buying ‘twelve copies of this book for others to be blessed also.’  She also said she had been able to use some of the thoughts expressed in the book in her devotional talks for Girls’ Brigade.

So sometimes after we’ve read a review or bought or gifted a book, we don’t know how God will choose to use that writer’s words and what impact it will make on others. When I posted the books off to my friend I hoped she would enjoy them, so I was thrilled to hear her response. I then asked her if I could pass this information onto the author to encourage him and she readily agreed. But why just email Ray Hawkins with the news?  Why not instead let others here know so we can see the effect one book can have on others?

Having been with me in prayer since the start of my writing journey, my friend knows what a roller coaster ride it can be. Some days you can feel on top of the world when a publisher says yes, or someone loves your book or you get an email telling you what a blessing it was. Other days a bad review, lack of sales or a rejection letter is enough to knock you flat and can leave you very much wondering if it is worth it. So I think it is important for us writers to try and encourage other writers, particularly Christian writers, so they do not get discouraged and give up. I’d love to hear how you have been able to encourage another writer or how  they have encouraged you.

 

Dale writes fiction, poetry and children’s fiction, and has written bible studies and Sunday school lessons. More information about Dale can be found at www.daleharcombe.com or on her Write and Read with Dale blog http://www.livejournal.com/users/orangedale/

 

 

The Centrefold of the Gospel – The Cross!

It is nearly Good Friday followed by Resurrection Sunday.   My husband Ray has his devotions included here on our blog and I have invited him to share his thoughts here today.  He has just released this third book in his 31 Day Devotional Series and with Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday this coming weekend, we would like to give a copy away to someone, somewhere, in this world of ours to help him or her be "captured by the wisdom, power, grace and wonder of Calvary"- as the blurb on the back cover invites.

These devotional meditations take you to the heart of the Gospel. They will fill you with awe of God. They will cause you to bow before the Lord in adoration.

Ray writes:-

Recently Australian Television screened Islamists desecrating Australian and British war graves in Libya. The natural response of course was outrage and the question asked, “Why would they do such a thing?” Part of the answer was portrayed in the scene of a number of men hacking at the tall memorial in the shape of the cross. For followers of the Crescent the Cross is anathema. In their eyes the West is Christian and the Cross our standard.

In our Western Democracies Christendom is either being sold short even by some of its leaders or opposed by militant agnostics. What is their focus? The smothering or removal of the symbol and message of the Cross! No wonder the scriptures speak about the cross being a stumbling stone or an object of foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:18-25).

I was motivated to write a devotional with the specific theme about the Cross. As a person convinced about its unchanging message, I was concerned that too many were tending to ignore the Cross’s crucial centrality to our faith. Most sermons or teaching major on the way God made the Cross of Christ our means of salvation. This wonderful truth should constantly overwhelm us and make us more devoted to our Lord. However there is so much more to what Jesus achieved on the Cross. From Genesis through to Revelation the shadow or reality of the cross, in symbol, implication or direct illustration confronts the honest reader who takes the Bible seriously.

In these devotions I’ve endeavoured to take you into the heart of God not simply for us, important as that is, but for the very honour of His Name and the redemption of creation. The cross is actually the cover, centrefold and back page of the Gospel. Without it the Church has no message and Humankind has no hope. We can talk about God being glorified, we can sing about the wonder of His grace but if that excludes the Cross we are in fact robbing the Lord God of His glory!

Once again the Church is being seduced into compromise. Wanting to be popular, relevant and non offensive there are those who want the Cross to be put into a cupboard and only mentioned on special occasions. Certain Denominations don’t want to upset Islam or atheists with a message of the crucified Son of God/Son of Man. Then they wonder why the Spirit of God writes over them ‘Ichabod!’

The Cross is the glory of God.

Therefore, ‘I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jews, then to the Gentiles. (Romans 1:16).

‘May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.’ (Galatians 6:14)

I may not wear a cross around my neck but it is over my heart. The cross is the badge of identity with Christ Jesus the Lord of Glory.

Ray (who enjoys the centrefold) Hawkins.

For years, Ray has been writing in various ways, including Bible studies, articles for church papers and also poetry - and beautiful love letters too! Since having his 31 Day Devotional meditation books published, he has become more and more involved in the "world" of writing that I have been now for over nineteen years.
It has been my real delight to share with him in the Christian writers' conferences held in Queensland the last couple of years. His Book One in this series was short-listed in the devotion book category of the CALEB awards while my Justice at Baragula went on to final. For details about all Ray's books click on  http://www.evenbeforepublishing.com/ 
Mary is multi-published in inspirational romance and her third book, Justice at Baragula, is available as an e-book as well as print from http://www.koorong.com/search/product/view.jhtml?code=9781921589515   
To learn more about Mary and Ray Hawkins, check out their website and blog from:  http://www.mary-hawkins.com/

Please leave a comment and you will be entered in the draw for a signed copy of Captured By Calvary - and please don't forget to check back to see if you are the winner and we then need your address details .