Obedience!

Obedience!

but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:7‭-‬8 KJV

The Context and Contention:

It is the season of Easter, and today's extract again lays emphasis on what we have received. The One who made Easter possible is God. But in his form and nature, it was impossible for death to even come near Him, not to talk of laying hold of Him. Something had to change; something had to left behind. The One who wanted to die for man knew that the best way to pay the price for sin was to look like the people he wanted to save. He made himself of no reputation and took the form of a servant. That was the only way man could be saved; by one who looked like him, and could experience the pain of sin, so that the penalty of and sacrifice for sin could be settled once and for all. 

He was made in the likeness of men, but he was not born in the manner of men. That natural birth process of man would have infused him with the nature of sin, so God suspended the natural law of procreation so He could break the power of sin in that one man Jesus. At his own birth, the cycle of sin was interrupted, so all He offered was free of sin and acceptable to God. By His sacrifice, a new way of life has now been opened up for man. Because of the nature of his birth, it is now possible for man to live above sin, if he can take hold of the life that makes it possible to live above sin. I can only imagine: what if He came to earth, but seeing the pain of the cross, refused to submit to it?

The Charge and Conclusion:

I live today because He died. He became obedient to death, so that death could be defeated for me. He tasted the pain, sorrow and rejection of sin, with the Father, for the first and last time, turning away from His Son at the time his son was bearing the sins of the world, so that I do not have to taste that anymore. However, there is a key factor to consider here, and it is the issue of obedience. If this was God's prescribed way to save the entire world, what good would it be if I choose my own way? If my way is not the way God prescribes, it can never lead to that which God prescribes. Can I say I have submitted my life in total humility to the One who is able to guarantee eternal life?

This is key: at the end of Jesus' obedience was total restoration of all that He laid aside so He could die for our sin. He even won over many brethren, who have come to believe in the finished work of the cross, and are now living as witnesses to the power of the resurrection and the hope of eternal life. I owe it to the One given as a gift to lay hold of the Life on offer and make it my own. I must come in total humility and accept that I cannot save myself; only by obedience to the rules of salvation can I enjoy the gift, as well as the prize of eternal life that lies at the end of the obedience. I also note that if I will take hold of the prize, I have to hold on to this gift to the end of this natural earthly life. There is no room for half-hearted obedience or hypocrisy. Eternity is too long not to be sure where I will spend it. God's time of favour is here.