Lenten message focuses on the ‘great crossover’ to eternal life

As the Lenten season progresses toward Holy Week, an obvious question arises: What was the purpose of Jesus’ suffering? Humanity needed redemption, a way to cross over from separation from God to fellowship with God. Because of what Jesus did, and through trust in him for forgiveness, believers experience what may be called the great crossover.

Jesus said in John 5:24, “Whoever hears my word and believes that God sent me, that person has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” When we believe, we cross over. There is no waiting period. The transaction is instantaneous.

Being a Christian is a change of status. You were in the kingdom of darkness; now you are in the kingdom of light. You were not born again; now you are. You were not in the family of God; now you are. You were under the wrath of God; now you are not, because you are justified by his grace through faith in his son. You have eternal life in heaven, or you do not. It is very simple.

When Moses led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt through the parted Red Sea, it was a sign of what was to come for all people through Christ. The Israelites crossed over on dry ground and went from slavery to redemption. It is the same for New Covenant believers. When we place our trust in Christ for forgiveness of sins, we cross over from the bondage of Satan to freedom in the grace of God. The apostle Paul called Satan “the god of this world.” At Calvary, Jesus parted the sea of judgment, and we walk through to justification by believing in him.

When Jonah was running from God’s call, he boarded a ship and a deadly storm followed. Jonah told the sailors, “This storm is because of me. If you throw me overboard the storm will stop, and you will be saved from death.” They did, and it did. On the cross, Jesus was thrown into the sea of God’s wrath against sin.

Accounts of Old Testament acts of God are mocked by unbelievers and by some unorthodox clergy. But God is not a showoff. He has a reason for everything he did and does. When we understand that the so-called unbelievable events in the Old Testament are there to point to and prepare the way for the coming Messiah, God’s outlandishness suddenly seems lovingly appropriate.

Jew and Gentile alike are without excuse for not believing in Jesus Christ when all the Old Testament miracles and prophecies pointed directly to him. All anyone has to do is believe in his or her heart that Jesus is the Messiah. When that happens, John 5:24 becomes reality: “Whoever hears my word and believes that God sent me, that person has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.”

Have you crossed over?

Ken Staley is pastor of Faith Church of Pleasant Grove, which meets at 9:30 a.m., and Harrisville Methodist Church, which meets at 11 a.m. Both are Global Methodist congregations. Text Staley at 918-852-9797.