FROM THE PASTOR
April 9, 2017
As chaotic as the world seems to be at this moment, those of us who have surrendered to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, are eternally secure in Him. My concern, both as a Pastor and child of God, is that I encounter so many individuals who continue to depend on a “form of religion” for their eternal security. Too many continue searching for eternal security everywhere but where that eternal security really resides. And even more troubling is the realization their failure to recognize or be persuaded means that in their wandering they really remain LOST.
Today is Palm Sunday. To Christianity, this day represents the day that Christ rode into Jerusalem with Jews on both sides of the road shouting, “Hosanna, hosanna to the King”. Many, who study this account, are surprised at Christ’s response to the worshippers? Luke records…
Luke 19:41 (NASB)
41 When He approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it,
Even (especially) today, too many in too many pews remain lost. They’ve taken the place of those Jews standing alongside that road into Jerusalem. In their hearts the Jews worshipped Christ that day because they desired a conquering King. Because of that, their worship reflected that desire and they failed to see Him as the long-awaited Messiah… and they continued to wander in their LOSTNESS.
For those who know this story, it comes as no surprise that their LOSTNESS was exactly why Christ had come as THE SACRIFICIAL LAMB rather than the CONQUERING KING. We see this reflected in Christ’s weeping over them. We also see this clearly in so many today.
Those standing alongside that road that day were relying on a form of religion, depending on earthly rituals, elevating religious individuals above or in equality with God, and worshipped the created rather than the Creator. And the consequences were that they wandered in LOSTNESS to VERY LOST.
Luke 19:41-42 (NASB)
42 saying, "If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes.
Too many today hold on to similar ‘forms of religion” rather than the SACRIFICIAL LAMB. Like the Jews that day, they depend on earthly rituals, they elevate religious individuals above or in equality with God and they worship the created rather than the Creator. And the consequences are the same for these too… they wander from being LOST to being VERY LOST as hearts harden. Still, truth remains truth today… There is no substitute for a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST. CHRIST REMAINS THE SACRIFICIAL LAMB.
Luke 19:10 (NASB) 10 "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."
Thank You for your faithfulness! Pastor Larry
