FINALLY!

There are moments that take place while reading the Scriptures when the Holy Spirit breathes new life across the pages. When the verses are more than mere words, but there are Truth and they are Life. Yes...I had one of those moments this morning. And...Yes...I'm going to share it with you.

I was meditating on Jesus being the Mediator of the New Covenant. A thought that, in and of itself, is glorious. A line of thinking that we have done much injustice to over the last 2,000 years. I've heard people speak of Jesus as a Mediator and Intercessor always along the lines of Him pleading our case before the Father. However, today I was able to see this role of Jesus on our behalf. Not Him in heaven to bring assurance to the Father, but Him in heaven to assure US. Then...out of nowhere...another verse comes in and the heavens within me opened.

Acts 7:56 has always held a place of prominence in my thinking. When you consider the circumstances that Stephen was experiencing when he looked into the heavens and saw the Son of Man, you can understand why. Just before his death, the first martyr of the church had a vision that should bring incredible comfort to each of us. Boldness should leap up within us to become everything that we were created to be. Assurance should flood our souls. Because in that moment, Stephen saw what the Father has wanted us to see all along. "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand God." As these words busted through the doors of my thinking, I heard this: "FINALLY!"

To understand the significance of what Stephen saw we must be able to grasp all that Jesus had accomplished. Scripture tells us that He came to seek and save that which was lost. And while we can look at the Cross and His Resurrection to get an understanding of His finished work, I believe this vision shows us what the Father has wanted us to see all along.
Finally, man is seen in his proper context.
Finally, the Father had a Son who chose relationship.
Finally, that which had been lost had been restored.
Finally, humanity is seen in the circle of fellowship.
Finally, the heavens are opened and we can see where we belong.

While we could spend countless hours talking about the differences between the Old and New Covenants, I just want us to think about what Stephen saw. While we could go back and forth about theology, I just want us to hear what he is saying. The Son of Man stands with the Father in an opened heaven. Assuring us of our rightful place. Reminding us of His finished work. Bidding every son of man to walk as sons of God.

Jesus is not begging the Father for mercy.
He is not pleading our case before the great judge.
He's not trying to convince the Father of our worth.
He is there to convince US. He is there to grant us boldness. The Forerunner of our faith. The Firstborn among many brethren. FINALLY, we can see it. FINALLY, we understand our purpose. We were created to walk in relationship with our Creator. We HAVE BEEN reconciled.

The only question that remains is whether or not we will reconcile our own thinking. Will we begin to trust that what Jesus did was enough? Can we, by faith, believe that there is no middle wall of separation? Can we finally let our guard down concerning our wrongful thinking about God and be assured of the Father's love for us in Jesus? I realize the difficulty. We have been told so many things regarding our Heavenly Father. What Jesus would have us to believe is that we see the Father through His lens. To come to grips with His love regardless of how we see ourselves. To be assured that He has taken care of everything so that we can live in His unbroken fellowship. Enjoy His right standing with the Father. Have rest for our souls.

This is the beauty of the Gospel. The Good News that the world needs to hear and embrace. That we would trust in Jesus as our Savior and Lord. The One who came into our bondage and led us into the Promised Land. FINALLY!