2011-03-18 - God's Greatest Things

Part 1 ~ Originally Preached 2004-05-26

Joel 2:21 - Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things. Indeed he has done great things.

I'd like for us to consider 6 of God's greatest things.

1. Greatest Creation

   Read Genesis 1:26,27

   We are God's greatest creation - the only creatures made in His image. Not even angels have that claim. Man alone speaks. Man alone possesses personality, morality, and spirituality. Man alone has spirit and free will. We were given dominion over all other things on earth. Mankind was and is his greatest creation and we caused his greatest hurt.

2. Greatest Hurt

   Read Genesis 3:6-11

   God yells out, "Where are you Adam? Why are you hiding? What did you do?" Chuck Smith, the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, wrote, "'Where art thou?' is the cry of a heart-broken father. God knew that Adam and Eve were the victims of their choice and that they were now in bondage to death and darkness." God had given them all they could want and warned them to stay away from that one tree. Don't eat that one thing. But they did.

   I want Jordan to stay out of the street. I could give him a tree house, a swing set, a sand box, and a pool and even warn him to stay out of the street. But oh how it would sting to look out one day and see him there in the middle of the street struck down by a car. Oh it would tear me up. I would do anything to swap places with him for that moment.

   That's exactly how God felt. And, being God he could do just that, so to prevent our death he gave us his greatest gift - his Son.

3. Greatest Gift

   John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

   His son was given to mankind and by his own words in Luke 19:10 "came to seek and to save that which was lost". He gave his life for ours. John 15:13 declares, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." That's what Jesus Christ did for us and in that final selfless act of love was arguably His greatest accomplishment and victory.

4. Greatest Accomplishment / Victory

   Read 1 Corinthians 15:55-57

   Perhaps the greatest moments for us might well have been one of the worst for God - the crucifixion of His Son. During the crucifixion, John 19:30 records, "When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost." Jesus had refused to drink the cheap wine to dull his senses earlier (Mark 15:23) but now he accepts a sip of that bitter vinegar to wet His parched lips and soothe His dry throat so He can make one final triumphant announcement to the world. So with a "great cry" he utters His final word. "It is finished!" is the cry of a winner - not a loser. Jesus had finished what he had set out to do. Like a tired runner who holds his arms up high in victory but holds his head down in exhaustion, He then bowed His head to rest after a job well done; he didn't drop his head in defeat. Finally he gave up His spirit: no one took it but he laid it down. He laid it down because he had achieved what he set out to do. And three days later he took His life up again. He conquered death and hell for us to give us the greatest victory.

   And the angels broke open the champagne and started shouting, "Glory, Glory, Glory to God!" The son was coming home his job complete and so it was left to man. God was confident man could choose the right way this time. One earth Jesus declared God's confidence in man's ability and paid the greatest compliment.

Until next time...

IHFHBOH

Adam

acdum@hotmail.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org

All verses are from the King James Version unless otherwise specified.
2019-04-05