God Sent His Only Son to Pay the Cost for Our Sins—HIS Plan All Along!
Oftentimes, we see this verse on tee-shirts, signs, slogans, billboards, Instagram messages, church marquees & even Bible bookmarks—
“This is the day which the LORD has made;
(The Psalms 118: 24 NASB)
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
- Whenever we read this verse, immediately the thoughts of our day and what lies ahead comes flying through our minds.
—OR—
- Whenever we read this verse, immediately the thoughts of rejoicing for the day the LORD provided us to live permeates our mind.
Now, I am not saying that these thoughts are totally wrong, but as I find myself walking through a heavy time at the university, I find that the verses surrounding verse 24 take on more importance than allowing this single verse to stand all alone. Please read the Word of God with me this morning.
“The stone which the builders rejected
(The Psalms 118: 22-29 NASB)
Has become the chief corner stone.
This is the LORD’S doing;
It is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
O LORD, do save, we beseech You;
O LORD, we beseech You, do send prosperity!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD;
We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and He has given us light;
Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, and I give thanks to You;
You are my God, I extol You.
Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
It’s a fact: People need the LORD!
It’s a truth: Jesus died once and for ALL!
It’s a promise: Jesus will come again & Everyone must be READY!
A tragedy occurred on campus a few days ago, and my heart breaks. Two families have lost something so precious: the life of their sons. During this season of sorrow that we seem to be walking through at the place where I am given the opportunity to teach, students & teammates are hurting. Professors, instructors & staff who work with the two students involved are struggling too. As the university students struggle to understand the ‘WHY’ something so terrible can happen, opportunities to share Jesus have come. In conversations over the past few days, many times I have been afforded the gift to pray with them.
- During class.
- During Zoom calls.
- During lunch in the university cafeteria.
- On the sidewalk.
- In the vehicle.
- Through WhatsApp messages.
Across the miles, even when we were separated, still the opportunity to pray existed.
In person, when we were together inside the same room or even when separated, the opportunity to share the Gospel message existed.
Tragedy is Horrible!
Life Lost that is ‘Young’ Life Gone too soon is truly tragic!
As long as Jesus tarries His second coming, the evil actions of the devil will exist in this world, but— Praise God, Jesus is still on His Throne! & Hallelujah, Jesus still changes lives!
God Sent His Only Son to Pay the Cost for Our Sins—HIS Plan All Along!
“The stone which the builders rejected
(The Psalms 118: 22-24 NASB)
Has become the chief corner stone.
This is the LORD’S doing;
It is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
- The chief cornerstone—Jesus, the Son of God.
- The builders who have rejected Him—us, before we knew Jesus as Savior & those who still walk this world trapped in their lostness, blinded by the lies of Satan.
- The LORD planned this from the beginning—“This is the LORD’S doing;”
- We who have received God’s Amazing Gift of salvation find—“It is marvelous in our eyes.”
- For WITHOUT JESUS’ death, burial, & resurrection, there is NO HOPE!
God Sent His Only Son to Pay the Cost for Our Sins!
This was HIS Plan All Along!
Therefore—
“This is the day which the LORD has made;
(The Psalms 118: 24-25 NASB)
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
O LORD, do save, we beseech You;
O LORD, we beseech You, do send prosperity!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD;
We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.”
The Christian band Fee sings the melody “Everything Falls,” a song that speaks of WHO holds us together whenever tragedy strikes. Furthermore, as we walk through this season of tragedy, numerous times the opportunity to share the Gospel message exists because hearts have become softened & because the fact that death comes to all has become a reality. My students who know the Lord Jesus as their Savior have become bolder to share their faith. & My students who remain lost have become more willing to listen to the Gospel message, to ask questions, and to lean in with their bodies as they listen about a man named Jesus.
Thus, we pray—
“O LORD, do save, we beseech You;
(The Psalms 118: 25 NASB)
O LORD, we beseech You, do send prosperity!”
God Sent His Only Son to Pay the Cost for Our Sins—HIS Plan All Along!
So, we raise our hands in praise to our Father, and in worship, we exclaim—
“Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD;
(The Psalms 118: 26-29 NASB)
We have blessed you from the house of the LORD.
The LORD is God, and He has given us light;
Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, and I give thanks to You;
You are my God, I extol You.
Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.”