God Wants US

“You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings. Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand — you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings.” ‭ Psalms ‭40:6‬ ‭NLT‬‬‬

God simply wants us! He wants our lives. He created us and He delights in our lives displaying His glory! All of creation displays the handiwork of Almighty God! His crown jewel is us! We are the apex of His creation. God has always intended for us to know Him and walk with Him.  In the bowers of Eden, He made man from the dust (see Genesis 2:7). There, He placed man to take care of this paradise called Eden (see Genesis 2:15). All of the things that the earth held was his to enjoy. The enjoyment was holy, sanctified. All things were untainted. There was no curse upon anything under man's charge. In the beauty of holiness, man walked with God in utter intimacy. There was no shame from sin. No perversion of mind or heart. Nothing but absolute Utopia! God had granted man the privilege to oversee His created earth (see Genesis 1:28).  Sin changed all of that (see Genesis 3:1-7).  Darkness, shame, and regret flooded in like a tsunami. Paradise was lost (see Genesis 3:20-24). No longer could we walk with God in the absolute beauty of His creation.  Man was left to meander through the maze of his own undoing. Hope was buried beneath the curse of sin.  But!! God had a plan! He instructed man on His holiness through the law of Moses (the Books of Moses are Genesis -Deuteronomy). However, the law could only bring us to the acknowledgement our violations of His holiness (sin).  Regulations and ceremony were given to us in order to establish a way of life that would mercifully grant limited understanding and access to the One who so loved us. The law would sustain civility, stability, and posterity. These laws required sacrifice and offerings. This was a tedious and strict process. Full atonement could only come from God Himself.  The law was powerless to redeem us, reinstate our relationship with God, or regain the paradise that God had made for us. A ransom had to be offered. Then came the incarnation - God became a man in the person of Jesus Christ (see Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; John 1:1-14; 2 Corinthians 5:19 and many more). He dwelt among us, taught about things eternal, and paid our ransom. Those who trust in His finished work on the cross are saved from eternal death and decay (see Romans 10:8-10,13). For those who have received Him (Jesus) there is the promise of the full restoration of all things (see Romans 8:18-30).  Once again, we will walk with Him and talk with Him on the earth He created (see Revelation 21 and 22).  nly this time, there will be no Satan, no sin, no sickness, no sorrow, or suffering! The darkness will be dispelled and the light of His presence will eternally illuminate the life we live (see Revelation 21:22-27).  I don't know about you, but my heart is heavy and longing for home! As John Bunyan so masterfully composes and articulates in his classic book "Pilgrims Progress" (this is not a quote but a concise summary of the book): Our gait must be fixed, our eyes must be set, and our complete focus given to our destination, not the distractions of our journey!  God has always wanted us, not the ritual!  The person of God is our life and the new earth He will make is the place we will call home.  (see Isaiah 65:17-25; 2 Peter 3:13; and Revelation 21:1-4).  For so many years we were so far from the One who made us. Now, through the Lord Jesus Christ, we can be so close! One day, we will see His face!!! No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.” ‭‭Revelation‬ ‭22:3-5‬ ‭NLT‬‬