Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” 12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son.
God knew that Abraham truly feared him. Now that the Lamb has truly provided, and we have seen the Son portrayed before our eyes as crucified, What do we know about God?
A. Know that God is Holy
Those of you who think that faith in Christ is optional, and what really matters is being a sincere good person. Do you really think God would have given up his own son if being sincere and good were enough?
Do you really want to stand before the Lord of the universe and say, you didn’t have to do that?
B. Know that Sin is Evil
“You who think of sin lightly, nor suppose evil great. Here may see its nature rightly, here its guilt may estimate.”
Every sin is treason. Every sin walks away from the God of love, and spits in his face saying I don’t need you. Make no mistake, I know you hear the message every hour. My sexuality is mine, and it is no big deal. If I really love this person, then sinning a little, lying a little, cutting a corner is no big deal. Twisting the truth, seizing a little power, it’s no big deal.
Do not trust your corrupt heart to determine what is a big deal and what is not. When you see the cross, you see how big a deal sin is. If God would not spare the son of his eternal love when he stood before him in your sin, then make no mistake – every sin will be punished. The soul that sins will die.
C. Know God’s Intentions are Good
What more can he do to convince you – Father is not angry anymore, please come home.
He has given his son for you, what do you think he will withhold?
You can trust him in the darkness
You can trust him with your life.
You can trust him with your family.
You can trust him despite your sin, please come home.