Thank you for taking time to visit, and I hope I am even a tiny bit helpful as I have been helped and blessed by so many others. I have been doing Calligraphy since teens, and card making for many years as well. In 1990 I delighted in the joys of stamping with ink and embossing after a trip to Cairns, Qld. In 2009 I discovered the brayer, 2010 the Cuttlebug, also have now taking to reading up on crafting blogs and lo! Here I am, on one of my own.

I live on the coast of eastern Australia. I am a Christian. I trusted in the LORD down here at the beach, amazingly it is not far from where I now live. It was over 50 years ago, after a Beach Mission Service at the age of 12 years

Friday 10 April 2020

Those That Walked in Darkness See A Great Light

Well, this Easter of 2020 will definitely go down in history, as different!
 Today Good Friday and on Resurrection Sunday where we are all at home watching live-stream services. 
However the Truth we celebrate is constant and unchanged for all of eternity!!
Heaven and earth will pass away, and yet what Christ wrought on the Cross that day on the hill of Golgotha almost 2,000 years ago will NEVER change.
When Christ cried out “IT IS FINISHED” Salvation was bought for all mankind. 
As I thought upon that most dreadful day in history thus far...
when the Son of God, 
the LORD Jesus Christ, the King of Glory 
was rejected of His own people - as they cried, "Crucify Him!"... 
These verses came to mind.
One is a prophecy written 800 years by Isaiah before Christ’s coming.

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: 
they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. Isaiah 9:2 

The other is perfected in Christ’s first coming as Saviour of all mankind.

And the light shineth in darkness;
 and the darkness comprehended it not. 
John 1:5
Today we may feel in as much darkness as they did back in 33AD approx. 
They were under strict Roman rule, we are under strict rule as a result of another dilemma, a pandemic.
However there is a greater pandemic which Christ cured that day upon the cross, the curse of sin, when the True Light of the World defeated the powers of darkness. 
Satan thought he had a great victory when Christ was crucified instead of Barrabas (see passage in Luke here). 
However the victory Satan thought he had won was short lived... as he was to see a few days later.
We need a vaccine to defeat COVID-19, but Christ by His sacrifice provided a vaccine or a way of escape from the eternal punishment of sin, with the gift of eternal life by faith in Him. 
That is far, far better than any human vaccine - for it is perfect and eternal!
Our verse says that the Light shines in the darkness and the darkness comprends it not.
As it was in 1st century AD so it is in 2020. 
God is speaking loudly and clearly - but oh sadly, so many do not hear or comprehend it.
At the crucifixion of Jesus there was darkness for three hours from noon (Jewish time = sixth hour) to 3pm (9th hour). 
.....
I wonder what their thoughts were at such a time?
I’m sure fear filled many a heart, and awe. 
Luke 23:33-49
And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. 
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. 
And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 
But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 
And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 
And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 
 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. 
And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 
And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. 
And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.
And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. 
And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.
I am sure the same mixed feelings of fear, grief, sorrow,  despair and confusion fill many hearts today over current events, especially those who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ.
I pray earnestly for these dear folk that they might see the true light.
May I be found faithful being that true light for Jesus. 
For He said," I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee".
May we never forget the great cost of our salvation on that day at Calvary. Our Saviour whose face was more marred than any man (See Is.52:14).
Our sin.. He bore it for you and for me. 
Hallelujah! What a Saviour! (Link here also)
This is another hymn by Philip Bliss (short biography here).
Lord bless you all as we meditate upon this, AND rejoice in so great salvation!
Loving prayers, dear ones,
Shaz in Oz.x 🙏🤗


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7 comments:

Betsy said...

Amen, Amen and Amen! Thank you for this beautiful post Shaz. The Light Shineth in the darkness. He is still shining in the darkness of this sin-filled world if we would just turn back to Him.

He Lives! Christ Jesus Lives Today! He Walks With Me and Talks With Me Along Lifes Narrow Way.
He Lives! He Lives! Salvation to Impart! You Ask Me How I Know He Lives? He Lives Within My Heart!

Wishing you a most blessed Easter dear Shaz.
Love and Blessings,
Betsy

loz said...

Lovely post Shaz. have a safe Easter..Hugs Loz

kiwimeskreations said...

Thank you for sharing this so widely Shaz. A beautiful post with which you know I agree
Stay safe
Blessings
Maxine

Anne said...

Amen! Wonderful inspired post mon amie merci bien!

Wise Hearted said...

May we never forget the great cost of our salvation on that day at Calvary. Our Saviour whose face was more marred than any man (See Is.52:14).
Our sin.. He bore it for you and for me. I love this scripture, it's so personal. I remember the lady who showed it to me when I got saved and said, if I had been the only person on earth He would have died for just me, personal. Then I remember thinking I am glad I was not the only person on earth because to have such a wonderful feeling of freedom inside me was too good to keep to myself and then I went home and called a lot of folks and told them I had got saved. I still feel that way, that urge to tell someone, to share the old old sweet story of redemption. Happy Easter

Conniecrafter said...

Wishing you a Happy Easter!

LilArtsyWoman said...

Thank you so much for this inspiring post. Amen to what you've written and have a blessed and safe Easter weekend.

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