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A Trip Down Memory Lane

Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Jeremiah 31:31-33

Try and imagine with me what it would be like to be a devout Jew reading this passage of Scripture. Can you sense the eager longing in your heart? Can you begin to comprehend the burden of sin that weighs you down daily as you fail to follow the Law? Can you begin to grasp the joy of this promise?

God knew as well as His people did that this first covenant wasn’t working. It was never His intention for it to work, but rather to point ahead to a better covenant in which keeping the Law would be a joy rather than an obligation or means of gaining favor.

Now keep that eager longing in mind as we imagine being present to hear these words from Jesus on the night He was betrayed:

And He took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” (emphasis mine)

Luke 22:19-20

Imagine being present to hear Jesus Christ say that He is the fulfillment of the words of Jeremiah! Imagine your heart leaping for joy at these words, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” Could there be any news greater than this?

Now consider with me the moment that God shone His light in your heart to give you knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 4:6). In other words, consider with me the day that God made Jesus more than just a theoretical, abstract savior of some religious order. Consider that moment in history that God revealed Jesus to be your personal Savior who died for your sins so that you might live in right relationship with God and enjoy Him for eternity. Consider when the Gospel first became Good News to you.

Were you filled with zeal for God? Desire for good works? Desire to spend time in relationship with Christ? Compelled to share your faith? Wanting to know more about His Word? Longing for Him to make all things new?

These are easy-to-understand emotions from one who has just realized that Jesus has saved him/her from the wrath of God and saved him/her to the Kingdom of God in eternal joy of the living God!

What about now? Is your zeal for God still what it used to be? Are you as deliriously excited as ever at the thought of seeing Jesus face to face? Do you really want to know God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent? Is Jesus Christ your treasure worth giving up everything for?

If you are reading, I hope you won’t shy away from these questions I am about to propose. Take some time and prayerfully consider them and then respond to what you sense God is leading you to do.

Was there ever that sense of that “kid on Christmas morning” excitement when you found out that Jesus had died for your sins and had become your personal Savior and means of right relationship with God? If not, why not? Ask yourself why Jesus isn’t your greatest joy and treasure and excitement, because He ought to be! Is He even a reality in your life? When Jesus is present, we can’t help but become more and more consumed by Him because He is beautiful and glorious beyond compare.

Is Jesus just an abstract concept? Is He simply a Sunday School story not too dissimilar from all the rest? Is the concept of salvation and the forgiveness of sins merely a nice notion?

Or does your heart well up with emotion at the thought of the spotless Lamb of God nailed to a Cross dying for your sins?

Which is it?

One lackluster response after another after beholding the glory of Son of God, Jesus Christ, is not going to cut it when we stand before the Holy Judge.

If our hearts are not longing for God, then we don’t know God no matter what we say we know.

But God is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love!

Cry out for His mercy that you might behold the face of Jesus Christ and live.

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