In Genisis 1:26, God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” Let US make mankind in OUR image, in OUR likeness. From the very beginning God is pointing to the trinity, God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit our advocate and the giver of peace. After 2,000 years of the old covenant, the law of Moses of which consisted of 613 commandments God sent His only begotten Son (John 3:16) to fulfill His perfection. He did this because we were unable to meet God in His perfection. Think of your own childhood and the perfection your parents might have held you to. None of us were able to meet those strict demands. We can become full of spite, hate and resentment. After a time, we give up and walk along a very wide path where life becomes easy, holding ourselves accountable to our own desires. These selfish ways keep us trapped in sin thus disconnecting us from God. We either work toward perfection, in a make-believe world, puffing ourselves up to be better than the next or give up and float through life blowing in the wind condemning those all around us.  

Jesus, the Prince of Peace came in righteousness to sacrifice Himself for our sins. He was put to death and on the third day rose again. In the last moment before His death, He took the sin of humanity upon Him and through belief in Him we are forgiven and brought to the Father. He hasn’t called us to religiousness but rather to receive from Him and to live in His love, loving as He loved us and walking in faith, according to His faith. Jesus calls us to surrender to His will and renunciate the things of this world. To listen and obey His will for us. To become Holy through Sanctification. Once called He abides within us (The Life), we reflect His Image (The Way) and become righteous (The Truth). Through His blood we are forgiven, through His word we are fed and made whole in Him. Forty days after His resurrection He went to the Father in heaven and left with us the gift of the Holy Spirit. Through His Spirit in us we are connected to the Son and through obedience have access to the Father; bringing us everlasting peace and eternal life.  

I did not always believe this; I was a self-made man and the creator of my own destiny. Finding myself in a pit of despair and bound to the darkness with 100 chains I asked Jesus to reveal Himself to me. Within hours He showed up, His Light took residence in my soul and over nine days broke every chain binding me to the slavery of self. He calls us to the service of His will to fulfill His purpose for us, which is to glorify the Father in all that we do, not to boast but to offer thanks to Him. If you are ready for freedom, ask Jesus to reveal Himself to you, offer yourself as His vessel to serve His will. Repent (stop sinning) and become His Light for others, leading them to His narrow path. The only path to salvation; heaven on Earth. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.