"Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures." 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.
There comes a moment in each of our lives, a pivotal and defining moment that changes in many unknown ways the life we were living and opens broader and more unknown avenues or paths for our lives to take. But it all comes back to that one defining moment.
For Moses, it was the burning bush. He made the choice to follow God's call and led a nation to the Promised Land. For Peter, while many moments could be defined as life-changing in the life of this apostle, I think it was walking on water. He stepped out in faith, questioned that faith, and cried out to Christ to save him.
For the famous trio of the Bible, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; it was the burning furnace. They were called to live their faith and did so, facing the very visible possibility of death by burning. Paul, arguably the greatest apostle of the followers of Christ, we all know the story of his life-defining moment; blinded on the road to Damascus….and called to account by Christ. He would never go back to the life he once lived, even when faced with a host of trials and tribulations.
Daniel faced the lion's den and Joshua, following in the footsteps of a giant in Christian history, parted the Jordan and moved into the Promised Land……
The road to these life-changing moments was different for each. Forty years to just a few. But when they came, these followers of Christ were forced to go beyond themselves to become involved in something they themselves could never do; without Divine assistance. And when they moved outside of their box, their lives were never the same.
But it all began with a understanding of the power of God. For modern-day followers of Christ, we have to face the one defining moment that can change our lives forever; bringing us from the punishment of sin into the assurance of everlasting life.
The Cross.
We are each in three stages of our journey; Followers of the True Christ and those who aren't. You may not have faced the Cross yet. You may still question the doctrine of the followers of Christ and seek the truth. You may not have been brought to your Damascus Road yet, your water walking moment, or realizing the Promise that God has for you.
You may have already faced the Calvary Hilltop and realized that Christ died for you, living in sin, so that you will be redeemed and set free. You are still realizing the journey that God has to unfold for you. You haven't yet reached this life's "Promised Land".
Or you may have faced that bloodied body of our Savior and answered the call to purpose that God has set aside for you. As you grow, are trained, and reshaped, you touch others in the other stages of their journey and God impacts the world in ways that only He can. The "Promised Land" of this world is opened for your living.
But it all starts at the whispering at the door, the shout from the mountain, or the touch of His hand. It starts as we step out into a relationship with God, one we had walked away from as our forefather Adam did in the Garden. It comes when we realize that we have forfeited our purpose and been lied to by the enemy. It comes when we face the fact that we cannot deny God anymore.
We face the fact that we cannot fill ourselves that emptiness that existed from the moment we were born. It is that moment when we realize the powerful sacrifice of Christ upon the Cross and become a new creature, full of promise and life.
D.L Moody said, "I believe firmly that the moment our hearts are emptied of pride and selfishness and ambition and everything that is contrary to God's law, the Holy Spirit will fill every corner of our hearts. But if we are full of pride and conceit and ambition and the world, there is no room for the Spirit of God. We must be emptied before we can be filled."
When we reach that moment in our lives where we are totally empty, abused by the world's lies and manipulations, and at the end of our proverbial rope, that we face the question that we all must answer.
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, who died upon the Cross of Calvary for your sins, was buried and rose again three days later……
Your answer will define your life and change it forever.
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