March 10: SAFEKEEPING

. . . through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you. 1 Peter 1:3b-4

In bearing all of the sins of the world in His body (2:24), Jesus suffered a total separation from His Father. His death was real. Jesus laid down His life in our place. When death came, it came as a result of His own broken heart over separation from His Father. The heart of the heavenly Father was rent also as the sadness and terminal sickness of sin, and all of the suffering that it ultimately brings about, fell upon His Son.

Satan’s invention that the dead are not really dead is a multipurpose misrepresentation of God. If he can twist the words of the Bible to mean that death is not real, then he simultaneously diminishes the resurrection of Jesus Christ. If He did not die, then no resurrection occurred! But Peter emphasizes here that the Lord Himself experienced resurrection from the dead. He arose, demonstrating His power over death, after bearing sin’s condemnation on our behalf. This is the core of our faith.

It is helpful to look back at the teachings of the sanctuary. When a guilty sinner acknowledged his guilt before God, he brought a lamb to the tabernacle or temple that would die in his stead. Would the priest glare at the sinner, narrowly looking him up and down, examining him as a wrongdoer? No! The priest carefully examined the lamb; it had to be spotless! The priest would then hand a knife to the sinner who killed the lamb himself. Peter reminds us: … you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot (1:18-19).

Jesus died for all of the world’s sins. This is absolute proof of His love for mankind. He followed through with the incredibly difficult divine plan; the plan foreordained before the foundation of the world (v.20). If we allow our enemy to cause doubt or mistrust of the Lord on any point in His word, then we will not have the trusting, obedient relationship with Him that leads to salvation. We are taught that this salvation is our inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that does not fade away. Because it is reserved in heaven, it is in perfect safekeeping! Beloved, do not allow the world’s influence to take your eyes off of the Lamb of God. Examine Him thoroughly. Through obedience, you will find Him to be all that He has promised. He is your inheritance. And you are His . . .

I am my beloved’s, And my beloved is mine. Song of Solomon 6:3

Reinforcements: Job 14:12; 19:26; 1 Corinthians 15:12-18; 2 Peter 3:10-15