GOD'S ROSE OF SHARON

Rethinking the Majesty of the Cross

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Genesis 3:15

O.K some holiday musings. It seems lately a lot of us who post articles are rethinking something or another concerning the application of the Scripture text. The original concept behind this artwork was to bridge a promise through symbolism to its fulfillment on a cross at the end of a dying age. Yet what is it about the Genesis prophecy of the garden that frightens so many believers if the dreaded “U” word might come into play through that fulfillment of the disobedience that had separated us from our creator? Yes it was spoken to Adam in the covenant context of Messiah but could the execution of the covenant God preserved faithfully till the birth of Jesus Christ only be a precursor for what was to come in the consummation of the one perfect life that makes all mankind free?

Wasn’t the whole purpose of God in Christ’s appearing to restore His original concept of unlimited access to His presence which began in Eden? I have never considered myself a universalist but if I’m to acknowledge I could never fully comprehend the totality of the cross then I must consider that label if it identifies me as such. "Such" meaning even after five decades into my own existence I don’t have all the eternal answers concerning the final destiny of mankind. Universalism is a concept that strikes fear and judgement in many a Christian’s heart only because I believe we totally miss the point concerning the purpose and plan of His cross. Is it possible that the new covenant is universal in its meaning because the breach Christ has been repaired that once separated us from God? Would it be so terrible if God accomplished a salvation that its only requirement was it could to be only attained through His Son via a simple faith and belief?

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6

Hasn’t the cross accomplished this for all mankind even if it isn’t a conscience decision on the part of the benefactor? Without getting stoned here on this blog, all I’m asking is could the cross of redemption and eternal salvation be fully understood in our lifetimes given our earthly restrictions of the flesh?I look at no man as an outsider or prodical when it comes to access to God. Without insulting my reformist friends but isn’t the very doctrine of God alone that draws all men been accomplished in the cross? Jesus was said to be a friend to the sinners and an enemy of the self-righteous. Why doesn’t these same concepts apply even more so today considering the fulfillment of things? Who can measure the worth or power of that cross by any human standards? Let’s open our hearts and minds to a fuller understanding of grace and mercy even at the expense of our own pride.

I personally believe in a covenant God so before you “brand’ me a closet universalist let me make this last point. Unconditional love shouldn’t have any conditions attached to it. The breath that God placed in Adam that introduced His creation to its creator was expressed and established for all time in the last words Christ whispered on the cross. “It is finished.” Adam’s sin could no longer separate us through disobedience because it was made powerless through the second Adam in the person of Christ Jesus.It is finished my brother’s in Christ. Ask yourselves what these words mean in your own heart and then try to take them away from someone who has never been made fully aware of them. Remember nothing can separate us from the love of God and I believe that includes wrong beliefs concerning the only god your own culture provided for or a set of parents who led you in their footsteps, or even unbelief through total ignorance of the knowledge of God that resides in their own hearts and reveals their own foolishness.

All these things doesn’t change the fact that God’s plan for a universal covenant was never theirs to begin with in the first place. So in this season as we remember God’s plan in the cross let’s look for that same forgiveness in those around us. And I will not consider it an insult if you think I’m some crazy free thinking artist type who is just trying to figure out just how majestic, majesty was towards us in the shape of an old rugged cross. Anyway when the roll is called up yonder, my thought is I’ll probably see you on the other side of eternity anyway. Viva La Cross.

James Robert Kessler
Because of Him Art Ministry 2008