By Brenda Groves
The Post Newspaper Contributing Writer
For several years now I have limited my TV time. As a personal choice I seldom watch the “what can go wrong” shows in favor of focusing on the “what can go right” scenarios instead. (A positive imagination is hard to maintain in a negative world, but it is possible!)
And from time to time, I discover some nuggets of wisdom along the way, like the segment on lightening my hubby and I came across one evening.
On this program the question was proposed, “can lightning strike an automobile?”
The answer was “Yes.”
I have heard before that it was not possible because of the rubber tires. Now, I still don’t understand how it all works but I thought the tires somehow grounded the car rendering it a poor conductor of electricity. (Well, surprise, my theory was, ummm, incorrect. Lol.)
The program actually aired a “caught on tape” video of a storm chaser sitting in his car, just after a storm had passed. He had his arm out the window videotaping when lightning struck his vehicle. Amazingly enough, he survived with no injuries, just a mild tingling in his left arm which diminished within a few hours.
They explained that the lightening traveled around the metal frame surrounding the automobile thus acting like a shield absorbing the shock, then it exploded through the tires. The full power of the lightening literally blowing holes in the ground. You could see the dirt flying up in the air at the time of impact.
It totally disabled the car leaving the battery dead and all the electrical components were fried. But none the less, the young man was still protected inside.
The car took the hit for him.
And as I watched the video I was struck with this thought, in a sense that’s what Jesus did for us when He died on the cross.
Now, please fasten your seat belts because here we go ….
The Lord Jesus Christ was like a lightning rod receiving all the wrath of God, and the sin of the world into Himself, in our place.
The wages of sin is death, Romans 6:23. Sin is the culprit, evil re-produces death, living through our fleshly desires (which is totally focused on self-seeking motives), spiritually separated from God. God never wanted it like this.
It was a fact that the sinful nature in man was killing him/producing death. Again, the penalty/wages of sin is death. But Jesus took the hit for us. “God manifested in the flesh” took our place. Think about this, really let it soak in.
Ever since the fall of man God’s war was never against man, but the sin nature now reproduced in man. Sin spread like a cancer and to kill a cancer in the body we go the root of it, and sometimes through drastic measures.
Look at this verse.
“And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all to Myself.” John 12:32
Draw all of what?
Some translations, like the NKJV, has the integrity to let the reader know that they added the word “peoples,” in translating the original manuscript. I personally believe think they inserted this word because it was just so hard for them to embrace what Jesus was actually saying here.
That He was really going to absorb/take into Himself, all of God’s wrath, and be completely cut off from His Heavenly Father so that we could have the choice to be spiritually reunited with God.
And we know that the word “peoples” can’t be right, because not all people are drawn to Jesus. They don’t all believe in Him, nor do they want to know Him.
Yet, look what John the Baptist said about Jesus when he saw Him, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” John 1:29
In a previous statement Jesus said, “Now, My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour? But for this purpose, I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” John 12:27-28
This revelation should bless our socks off!
That “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation … For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Cor. 5:19 and 5:21.
Throughout Jesus ministry He always referred to God as His Father, yet just before His death He cried out, “My God, My God why have You forsaken Me?”
At that moment, when Jesus was stripped of His righteousness and became like us, unrighteousness before God, our Heavenly Father had to turn His face away from His beloved Son.
“And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split …”
The wrath of God, poured out on His “beloved Son,” to make a way for us to know our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ, who took away our sin, my sin … your sin.
The next time you see a lightning storm or hear a bolt of thunder I hope it will be a reminder of the hit that Jesus took for mankind, and how much God loves you.
(All scripture taken from the NKJV.)
Contact Brenda Groves at: ads@alvinsun.net
