FROM A PURE STAND

Jesus, the Christ, suffered,

like what falls from a pure stand,

with majesty stripped and beauty no more, 

bearing sin and hurts and a whipping strand—

the punishment humbly He bore.

Jesus, God’s Son, perished,

like what dies low on the ground,

left to waste, decay, where graves take back,

cast away, disowned but not making a sound—

obedience, none did He lack.

Jesus, our Lord, descended,

like what goes under the floor,

where there is no esteem in the long of day,

smitten and stricken, where shadows grow more—

the price He did willingly pay.

He was despised and rejected by men,

a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.

Like one from whom men hide their faces 

he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Isaiah 53:3                                                      

FROM A PURE STAND

Like Advent for Christmas, we are in the Lent season for Easter. We prepare for the coming Good Friday day, remembering how Jesus willingly went to the cross for us and bore our sin on it. He could have called a thousand angels to His side, but He didn’t.

And He continued to Calvary knowing not everyone would believe in Him. He humbled Himself, washed disciple’s feet and obeyed His Father’s wishes, His Father’s commands. God is in control as always, whether it looks like that or not.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

What a joy it is when God answers prayer! I had prayed for an opportunity to lead my father-in-law to the Lord and God gave me two opportunities. This rough person, my father-in-law, humbled himself to repentance and acceptance. He said he was sorry for things he had done. At 89 years old, he asked Jesus into his heart, a few weeks before his death.

Therefore thus saith the LORD GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.

Isaiah 28:16

Keep praying for those around you and on your heart. My father-in-law poured concrete walls in his day. By his profession of faith in Jesus, who is the precious cornerstone, I have the hope and peace of seeing him again in Heaven. 

Some people think everyone goes to Heaven no matter what. I trust you know the Bible doesn’t say this. People go to Hell every day. Every day! I guess people come up with their own sense of peace and what suits them when they don't want God's remedy. But those who accept Christ gain eternal life, as God's Word declares.

Then Easter Day! We prepare for the glorious time of resurrection. The Living God raised His Son Jesus Christ from the dead three days after He died. This is only possible from the Sovereign, Almighty, Omnipotent, Living God. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved. The LORD is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people. Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy.

Psalm 99:1-3

A wooded area that is not mixed with any other type of tree is said to be a ‘pure stand’. There are pure stands of oak trees, pine, beech and maple trees. In these splendid groves, one can be reminded of our Creator who sent His Son, Jesus, our Savior. He took off His cloak and washed the disciple’s feet. He humbled Himself, and in a sense, left His pure stand to die for us. Creation itself speaks of the holiness of our Creator, if we have the ears to hear and the heart to accept.

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God.

Ephesians 2:6-8

‘How can you be sure?’ I was asked this by my father-in-law before I prayed with him. 'You can be sure!' I answered. 

Spread hope. Live hope. Stand out. Are you the talent who did nothing with the one given to you when you were told to multiply? Breathe hope. It comes from God’s Word, belief in Christ, and communion with the Holy Spirit.

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.

1 Peter 3:15

Having this hope will give beautiful feet, reliance on prayer, and the attribute of meekness.