The Pleasure of God

I Corinthians 1:18-19,21: "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.' . . . . For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe."


It is amazing to see how people respond to the "message" of grace offered by Jesus Christ. For those who would attempt to figure God out by using their "wisdom," they are apt to conclude that such notions of a God offering Himself for our salvation to be an absurdity. These people either believe that God does not exist at all or that He exists but is so ethereal that we cannot know much about spiritual matters.

A majority of people today if asked about their eternal condition would argue that there is a Creator and that the standard for eternal blessedness is contingent upon "good living." That is, if a person simply does enough good things as compared to bad things (i.e. their karma), then this mercurial cosmic essence or deity will grant that person entrance into Heaven, or Nirvana, or Paradise, or whatever they want to call it.


In response, the One True God communicates in His Holy Word that only through Christ's physical death and resurrection might a person have hope of Divine forgiveness. This is because all of us have sinned and therefore are unable to provide satisfaction for our sins against the Lord. Only a perfect sacrifice would suffice; hence this was why God had to come to this Earth as Jesus Christ to offer Himself as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.


Of course, this fact of our inability to gain for ourselves our redemption runs counter to any notion of inherent goodness or worthiness within a person. There is a sobering reality that each person must plead for the mercy of God, which necessitates that he relinquish any false notion of ability. He must fall at the throne of God and beg for forgiveness, surrendering himself to Christ as his Lord and Savior. No longer can he believe the falsity that he is inherently good and worthy of God. This person must kick himself off the throne of his life and put Christ where he rightfully deserves to be . . . on that throne!


This need for Jesus Christ as Savior and the resultant capitulation of the one's "self" to Christ is an absurdity to those who are perishing spiritually. It is not so much because the precepts are too difficult to understand; rather, there is a hostility of "self" in submitting to God. Pagans will attempt to reason away any notions in order that they might feel absolved of any responsibility. They formulate contrary opinions of their reality, and are apt to mock those who would follow Christ as Lord. These people are blinded by the Evil One, who uses their resistance to the gospel to ensnare them for all eternity (2 Corinthians 4:4). This is the grandest loss that ever will be recognized in eternity . . . that God would suffer a heinous death out of His amazing love for humanity, only to have certain ones deride such an offering of grace. Tragically, God will pour out the full measure of His wrath against these traitors to His Sovereign Lordship. When Jesus returns to enact His righteous judgment, these rebellious ones will experience such judgment that they will desire their own annihilation (Revelation 6:16). Sadly, they will be cast into the black darkness of torment where there will be eternal pain and agony (Jude 14-16; Matthew 13:42).


Still, for those who have yet to draw their last breath in this life, God's offering of grace is still available; in fact, He takes pleasure in presenting such an offering to those who would receive it. God is looking for those who are humble and contrite in spirit and tremble at His Truth (Isaiah 66:2). God knows that only a person who understands his utter unworthiness will find a need for Him . . . otherwise that person will perpetuate his own quest for divinity. For this person, no hope remains . . . only a sobering judgment from the Almighty King! (see John 3:36; Hebrews 10:26-7).


For those of us who have responded to Christ's offering of salvation through contrition and surrender, let us celebrate that the power of God has been made manifest to us. Let us reflect often upon this ultimate sacrifice of Christ upon the Cross for our sins. Let us sing praises for His resurrection, whereby He demonstrated His power over sin and death. Let us appreciate that God's wrath has been averted. Let us take joy forever in the privileges that God has afforded to us . . . solely through His amazing grace.

It truly is a wonderful blessing to find the pleasure of God through His salvation in Christ Jesus.