The other day I wrote a blog post about the importance of sharing the Gospel, but I realized I did not tell you what the Gospel was. So, I decided to fix that small mix-up. Of course, I just can’t tell the Gospel any ole way. If you look at it, the Gospel is simple and sweet on the surface, but powerful and intricate underneath. Those of you who know me, know that I am a theatre kid, so I am definitely about to take you on a dramatic and theatrical journey to tell you about the Gospel. Sit back and relax and open your heart to hear one of the greatest love stories known to mankind.
There was a story that my mother once told me about a King who loved his people. He loved them so much that he sacrificed his self to save them. Can you believe that? A king who would die for his people? Is there such a thing? I cannot even fathom it. But if we take a moment and truly think about it, wouldn’t that be the most powerful love story known to man. A love story between a King and his people.
My mother said that the King was a benevolent and kind King but that he had a sad story.
He was the creator of his Kingdom and everything in it, but he would be betrayed by the very things he created.
His subjects were his most valuable creation. He loved them and put all that he had and was into them. He spent countless hours and days pouring into them. He even created a land just for his people to inhabit and rule. It was all for them.
My mother spoke of the freedom that the people had. They were given everything they needed to live in complete bliss; they lacked nothing.
The land they lived in was paradise and was an expression of love from the King to his people. The people lived in peace and prosperity with the King and longed for nothing else.
But, in the midst of paradise was an enemy that prowled the land. Its sole purpose was to destroy the hope and trust that the people had in their King.
The enemy tricked the people into questioning the character and integrity of the King who loved them. Because of this, they became unsatisfied and betrayed their King.
Their betrayal caused them to lose their identity and their fellowship with their King. They turned their allegiance from their benevolent King to the unstable kingdom of the enemy.
The heartbroken King mourned the loss of his people, but His love for them was too great to let them be lost from him forever. He vowed that He would get everything back that belonged to him. He set a plan in motion that would span the test of time. His plan gave him the victory over the enemy instantly, the moment he thought of it. But this victory would take time to unfold.
While his people dug their graves deeper into the soil of the evil one, the King protected them from behind the shadows. While they were whisked away by the foils and folly of their enemy, the King fought and won every battle that his people faced. He did this, all while being rejected by the very same people that he fought for.
When the people were in distress, they called out to the King and he would save them, knowing that they would turn their backs on him once they were out of the pit.
They were held captive by their love of the enemy. They would sacrifice themselves for the momentary satisfaction he would bring. They performed evil deeds towards the King and each other. Hatred grew in their hearts and pleasure was their pallet. They were under the impression that they were not slaves of their new kingdom, but rulers of their own fate.
Oh, but if only they knew, the enemy could care less about their state of being. His sole intention was to destroy the people because he hated their King. All he had to do was plant a seed in the heart of the people and let that newly planted animosity for their King grow. The enemy wooed them to a bed of nails and allowed the pressure of their decision to impale them.
Yet still, as the years went by, the people continued in their betrayal of the King and the enemy kept baiting the people and striking them once caught.
The people were oppressed and the pleasures they once enjoyed became chains that tied them down to their enemy. They cried out for a savior and they wept in agony, but still, their chains reminded them of the pledge they made to their new kingdom. They could not escape; there was no way.
Little did they know that the King’s plan to save them was about to be revealed.
You see, what the people committed was treason, and the punishment for treason is death. The King knew it, the enemy knew it and so did the people.
They were far beyond a grace period. Their actions had become so evil that it was detestable in the mouth of the King, but He loved them all the same and wanted to save them.
He heard their cry for salvation, which to him, was louder than the sound of their betrayal.
The enemy began to accuse the people of their wrongdoing. He constantly reminded the King, that the punishment for the people was death. He taunted, smirked, and persisted.
But the enemy was arrogant. He forgot that this King was not only benevolent but powerful. He underestimated the King’s power, and most of all he underestimated the love the King had for his people.
What the King did next was astonishing. It surprised the enemy and the people.
The King humbly disguised himself among his people. He became one of them and walked among them. He encouraged and empowered them. He healed their sickness and diseases and forgave their follies. He gave them hope of the freedom that was coming and reminded them of who they once were. He reminded them of the original Kingdom they were a part of. He let them know, that Kingdom was coming to save them. Some accepted him because they recognized who he was. Others taunted and mocked him because they were afraid of who he might be.
He allowed his people to accuse him and beat him. He took it all and still smiled at them with love. He empowered them, all while awaiting the time he would step in to save them.
Then the unthinkable happened. He, in their place, was put to death so that they would not have to take the punishment they deserved. He allowed his people to kill him for the punishment of their betrayal.
He carried the chains of his people’s sin on his back. He sullied his clean hands with the dirt of their treason.
He proclaimed his love for them and then died.
While he was in the grave, he traveled to the dwelling place of the enemy and took back what belonged to Him. He took back the keys to his Kingdom and the rights to his people.
He paid the price for their betrayal and failure, and because of this, they were set free. They no longer had to be slaves to the enemy or his kingdom. All their wrongs disappeared as if they had never done it.
Then to astonish everyone, even more, the King came back to life. Death couldn’t hold him for a crime he didn’t commit, but the blood that he shed was enough to cover the crimes of his people.
The King went back to his Kingdom to prepare it for his people’s return, but before he did, he left them a gift. This gift was a weapon to protect them from the follies of the enemy and it was also a guide to help them live in this life while they awaited their King’s return.
The sad thing is, after the King came back from his grave, some of his people did not accept his sacrifice. They wanted to stay in the comfort of the enemy’s kingdom.
The people divided into two groups; those who accepted the King’s love and sacrifice and those who did not.
The King’s sacrifice is the only way for the people to escape the punishment of their betrayal.
That is why the King’s journey is not yet complete. He loves all his people and wants them to live in the freedom they once had. My mother told me that the King is still fighting for his people to the very end; his journey is not yet complete.
My mother told me that the King asked those who believe in him to share this story with others; in the hopes that they will return to him. This story was passed down and told to my mother and from my mother to me. And when I have children, I will pass this story along to them.
I want to tell them the story of a King who would sacrifice his own life for his people.
I want my kids to know that such a love exists and that it exists for them. I want them to know that this story is their story.
My mother told me that the King is still alive today. He rules supreme in his Kingdom, but he is waiting for the day that he can come and bring his people back. He is preparing a place for them.
Until this day, he is still pouring out his love on his people.
Can you feel it?
John 3:16
“For God so loved the World, that He gave his only begotten son. That whoever should believe in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”
This promise is for you and for me. This is the Gospel message. If you don’t already know that you are loved, let me remind you. You are loved beyond your wildest imagination. The faults and mistakes you have made have not stopped you from being loved.
There is a King who created you and loves you. You have betrayed him. We all know that we as humans are far from perfect. We hurt ourselves and each other daily, even the best of us. But there is hope in the love of that King. He died so that we wouldn’t have to live in the punishment that we deserve. He died in our place so that we can spend eternity in freedom with Him.
And even though he faces rejection, betrayal, and hate every second from the people he loves and created. He still fights for us and recklessly loves us.
That King's name is Jesus Christ. And those people he loves are you and me.
There is no love like this, and it is available for you today.
If you already know about the Gospel and have accepted Jesus as your Lord and savior, what a gift you have. Don’t keep it to yourself. Share with your friends, family, and co-workers, so that they too, can receive this gift.
If you have never heard of this love and didn’t know about it, but want to accept it today, I invite you to pray the below prayer:
Dear heavenly Father,
I come to you today. I have heard and learned of your love and sacrifice for me. I want to accept your gift of Salvation. I know that I have sinned and made mistakes. I ask you for your forgiveness. I acknowledge and believe that you are the son of God and that you are the only way to the Father. Lord, I ask that you teach me how to live for you. I accept your love today; in the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen
If you prayed this prayer, I would love to hear from you. I would love to connect with you, pray with you, and see if we can get some resources in your hands to help you start this wonderful journey. You can reach me by going to the contact section of this website or by hitting the chat button below. Look forward to hearing from you.
- Moriah Scott
Pic - Collage of pictures ( put together) from pixaby.com
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