A Good News Easter Message! "The Legion"

God has an amazing way of expressing who He IS…through nature...

Even superficially...one can stand in awe of the amazing beauty around him and call it good.

Today....in His Wisdom and Grace…this mountain image seems to beautifully reflect the scripture I have been reading as of lately...

It is spring time in the Colorado Mountains. The days are getting longer and the sun is getting higher with each day as winter slips away.  On this day, I find myself outside enjoying the warmth of the sun, while reading His word.  I look up and am refreshed by the mountain air and the wind on my face....it is as though ALL the trees are cheering....as I read the living word....Celebrating in its Truth!

SO many trees...too many to count…some big, some small, some medium, some fat, some skinny, some weak...and some strong....It reminds me of his church....everyone in a different place....purposefully…on His chosen path in this journey of life.  But as the wind blew... Each tree holds its own...standing strong despite the wind...despite the size…and this reminded me of what we each have in Christ...the army of God that daily surrounds us...

Although we cannot "see" this army of God...that goes ahead of us... that fights the fierce spiritual battles...that protects us until we are called home....the battles are real... and His Army of Angels Prevail…Praise our Father...Bless you Jesus!

Jesus referenced the heavenly army on this Easter week in the Garden of Gethsemane... “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.  Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?”

(Matthew 26:52-53)                   

 

The literal definition of ONE legion... is “a unit of 3,000–6,000 men in the ancient Roman army.”  Or known as “a vast host, multitude, or number of people or things…great in number”

More than 12 legions would be over 70,000 angels in our Lords heavenly army.....immediately available at His call…There may have only been hundreds of men around Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, as the scripture says Judas came with the chief priests and elders in a "large crowd", carrying swords and clubs.  No match for 70,000 powerful angels!

This was a pivotal moment, as it speaks to the heavenly authority of Jesus Christ.  However…it was Gods will for Jesus not to speak...not to call on his righteous authority.... but an innocent man…the Son of God…to be treated like a criminal....in order to fulfill the scriptures for our salvation. Praise you Father. Bless you Jesus.

In this Holy Week...as we remember what Christ did for us on the cross so long ago....may we be reminded....because of His sacrifice.... we not only are given “the FREE gift of eternal salvation”(Romans 3:24, 6:23), but also through the Holy Spirit that now dwells IN us…a "legion" of angels to stand firmly around us in our days here on earth! 

Jesus acknowledges the weakness of humanity in Matthew “The spirit is willing…but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41) Daily, we need this heavenly army around us to press on, find hope, and most importantly have PEACE…on our journey through this life. 

IN Christ, we are sealed…protected…as the MOST precious in His eyes…and He will daily fight for us…until we arrive home, with our Father in Heaven.  “He has set His seal of ownership on us…and put His spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come!” (2 Corinthians 1:22) AMEN!

So when the wind starts to blow in our lives, the Lords heavenly legion stands strongly around us.   His promise is to NEVER leave your side…“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms...He will drive out your enemies before you, saying, 'Destroy them!” (Deuteronomy 33:27)  

The Lord is NOT hiding...He is Waiting...waiting for seekers...And He WILL be found…Jesus said… “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you…seek, and you will find… knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives…and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened” (Luke 11:9-10)

Our Lord Jesus…HE IS Grace!  HE WILL bring you back... He WILL Gather His sheep...and they WILL be with Him for Eternity! (Jeremiah 29:13-14)  Amen!

As I look upon this amazing beauty today, and "SEE" the multitude of strong trees around me....at LEAST 70,000....I am awe struck.  As believers in Christ, we are called to live by faith...in fact Jesus said we are “blessed” because of our belief in what we cannot “see.” (Luke 11:28).  

But…every once and awhile it is GOOD to get a "glimpse" of what He tells us IS His Truth...will you gaze upon this picture....?  And think upon these things...?

He has revealed and hidden in the hearts of the man, who obediently follow His call...Truth..(1 Corinthians 2:10)   

Jesus IS GOOD.  HE IS Worthy.  He IS our Savior for NOW, as we journey....and into Eternity…where his faithful followers are blessed to be in His BOOK of LIFE. (Luke 10:20, Exodus 32:33, Rev 13:8)

Good Friday and Easter IS His invitation to be IN His Book of Life!
In Luke 13, Jesus speaks in parable about a fig tree that is not producing fruit.  The owner of the vineyard expresses interest in cutting it down as it does not bear fruit. But the caretaker asks for one more year…to encourage it to bear fruit... 

This IS a parable that expresses His invitation for Holy Grace....there IS still time.. Before "that day" where ALL will actually SEE Him, and say His Holy name. (1 Thessalonians 5:2)

NOW is the time of GRACE…The Lord waits patiently for more to seek Him...

If you have not yet seeked the Lord for your forgiveness of sins...He is waiting for you... NOT in disgust or shame…but IN LOVE.  YOU are MOST precious, and He desires you to seek His face, know His love, find Him waiting…wanting to bring you into His family!  It has been said that “never has a man that found and accepted Christ as Savior…has ever been sorry.”

There is abundance IN Him....Abundance in life NOW…as we journey…

Abundance in a promised eternal life....part of God’s Family…and our names in the Book of Life!

Prayer: “Father God I thank you for your son Jesus….He died on the cross for ME…for my imperfections…for my sins...I thank you and believe that I am FREELY forgiven through Him…the son of God, who died on the cross to save ALL…who will accept this FREE gift of eternal LIFE…Thank You Father God…IN Jesus…ALL are welcomed into your eternal kingdom…that my name is now in your Book of Life!  As I make this statement today, Father, I am far from perfect and I ask you to gracefully reveal yourself to me in my days, as I journey through this life...Be my legion...protect my days…and draw me closer to you for life abundant now…I thank you for including my name in Your Book of Life…for an eternity in Heaven with you!  Blessed be your sons name…Jesus...today I pray…I open my life to you…Amen”

Would you “Share” this today?? God is waiting for “More” to seek Him…Kingdom Builders!!!