The Brilliance of God's Grace...

 We often — or rather, I often — find myself turning to Scripture, seeking truths that guide the course of my life. Looking back, that hunger is one of the clearest signs of God’s grace at work within me. Without it, where would I be today? What amazes me most about my glorious God and Father is His patience, His long-suffering, and His willingness to collaborate with a wretch like me.

The world shouts a vastly different message today. Self-worth, self-celebration, self-exaltation — these themes dominate, especially as the deceiver subtly infiltrates hearts. “You deserve it,” they say. “You owe it to yourself.” But if we are honest, all any of us deserve is eternal separation from God — hell and the lake of fire. We have ignored the Creator of all things, visible and invisible, and offered little homage. Even after the cross, our flesh resists, but thank God, a day is coming when our body of death will be shed forever.

Yet today — right now — is the day of salvation. The door is open, but it will not remain so indefinitely. This is the season of grace, mercy, forgiveness, and reconciliation. But we must respond before the season passes.

I want us to grasp the magnitude of this truly… Jesus in my place, and what that cost our God and Father. What did this extraordinary achievement cost God? How extreme was the sacrifice? Let us walk through Christ’s journey — a biography of the eternal Son stepping into time.

 

His Eternal Identity

Before Bethlehem, before creation itself, Jesus already existed. He is the eternal Word — co-equal, co-eternal with the Father and the Spirit. The triune God: Father, Son, Holy Spirit — three persons, one essence. He was not created. He is.

 

His Descent into Humanity

The Word became flesh. The Creator entered His creation. He did not descend upon a throne, but into the womb of a humble virgin, Mary. The infinite God confined Himself to an infant’s body. The eternal became temporal — the first scandal of grace.

 

His Life of Perfect Obedience — Despite Opposition

As He lived among us, Christ walked in perfect obedience to the Father. Not once did He sin, stumble, or deviate from His mission. Astonishingly, even those closest to Him inadvertently tried to thwart that mission:

• Peter rebuked Him for speaking of His coming suffering.
• Even His own brothers urged Him to step into the public spotlight before the appointed time, not yet believing in Him themselves (John 7:1-9), but Jesus remained perfectly aligned with the Father’s will.
• The crowds sought to crown Him before the appointed time.

Even in the wilderness, Satan tempted Him — and failed. Every shortcut, every appeal to hunger, authority, or pride felt powerless before His obedience.

Jesus remained locked into His Father’s will. If He had failed even once, humanity would have been eternally doomed. But He did not fail. He carried the weight of salvation flawlessly.

His Sacrifice on the Cross

At Calvary, He stood in our place. Every sin — every lie, lust, pride, and act of rebellion — was placed upon the sinless Son. The wrath that rightfully belonged to sinners fell upon Him.

The Father did not spare His own Son. Nails tore flesh; suffocation gripped Him; the agony was unimaginable. Yet the emotional weight was greater still. The sinless One bore the full weight of sin and divine judgment. When He cried, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” it was substitution — standing where we should have stood.

With His final breath, He declared, “It is finished.” Justice satisfied, wrath exhausted, the door of grace thrown wide open. This is love beyond comprehension. This is what it took to redeem wretches like us.

 

His Burial and Resurrection — Triumph Over Death

He truly died, fully and completely. Laid in a borrowed tomb, the stone sealing the entrance, the world held its breath. Yet the grave could not contain Him. Sin could not claim Him. Death could not defeat Him.

On the third day, the silence was shattered. The stone rolled away. Angels declared the impossible: He is not here — He has risen!

The resurrection is proof of victory, the declaration that death has been defeated, and that every promise of God — redemption, restoration, eternal life — is secure for all who believe. The empty tomb proclaims: Salvation is complete. Hope is eternal.

 

His Ascension and Eternal Reign — Seated in Glory

After conquering sin and death, Jesus ascended — not as a defeated man, but as the conqueror of all things. He sits at the right hand of the Father, exalted above all powers, principalities, and names. From that throne, He intercedes for every believer, ensuring that the work of the cross continues to save in real time.

Yet His reign is not only intercession. Every kingdom, every nation, every force of darkness bows — willingly or not — to His authority. One day, He will return visibly, decisively, and gloriously as King of kings and Lord of lords, unopposed and triumphant.

We live in the tension of this reign: seated with Christ in heavenly places, yet awaiting the day His kingdom is fully manifested. His ascension assures us: nothing is beyond His reach, nothing beyond His control, and nothing can separate us from His love.

 

A Call to Reflection and Response

As we revere all Jesus has done — from eternity past to His ascension — one question remains: where do you stand in relation to Him?

He left heaven to obey perfectly, suffer in our place, die for our sins, and rise victorious. He now reigns in glory, yet the offer of salvation remains open — but not indefinitely.

This is the moment to humble yourself.
This is the moment to turn from rebellion and self-reliance, and bow before the One who loved you enough to die in your place.
This is the moment to acknowledge that apart from Him, you are lost; in Him, you are redeemed.

Do not wait for another day. Today is the day of salvation. Step into the freedom, forgiveness, and new life Christ purchased with His blood.

Let your heart respond in faith, gratitude, and surrender. Let your life bear witness to the cross, the resurrection, and the ascended King. Nothing — not death, sin, or circumstance — can separate you from His love.

And one day soon, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess, every eye will see Him as He returns in glory. Let us not face that day unprepared. Walk in light, obedience, and the power of the One who conquered all for you.

Reflect. Repent. Respond. Live for Him — today, tomorrow, and for all eternity.

 

Signing off

 

Tyrone