Prophecy of Messiah:
Numbers 21:9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
Good morning, reader! As I sat at my desk this morning, I pled with the Lord to open my eyes to His will for my life. It has been my goal to spend more time in His Word and prayer. When I opened His Word, I read today’s verse: Revelation 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. As you know, brass was one of the strongest metal in ancient days. It was a symbol for judgment.
We see that those that were bitten by the serpents had to look up at the fiery serpent on the pole in order to live. They had to “look in order to live.” The judgment for their sin was to obey God and “look and live.” If they did not, they received God’s judgment. It is no difference with us today. Look to Jesus and live, Reader! Either way, the Israelites had to look up and so do we today!
Prophecy of Messiah Fulfilled:
John 3:14-18 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: (15) That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (16) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (17) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (18) He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Have you ever noticed that the medical profession uses a similar logo? Today, people look to doctors to help them with their “physical” ailments. But doctors cannot cure the sickness of the heart. Satan’s lies deceived Adam and Eve and their own pride caused them to sin. God impressed upon my heart to show anyone reading that it is our own sinful pride that keeps us from looking up and receiving eternal life. People must look to Christ for their “spiritual” sickness, which is their sin. Jesus is the only cure for our sins. Just as Israel was bitten by the snakes due to their disobedience, they had to look to the serpent on the pole in order to live! So must we look to Jesus on the cross to receive eternal life! Back in 1887, William Ogden wrote this beautiful hymn which beautifully depicts this:
Look and Live
1 I’ve a message from the Lord, Hallelujah!
The message unto you I’ll give.
’Tis recorded in His Word, Hallelujah!
It is only that you “look and live.”
Refrain:
“Look and live,” my brother, live.
Look to Jesus now and live.
’Tis recorded in His Word, Hallelujah!
It is only that you “look and live.”
2 I’ve a message full of love, Hallelujah!
A message, O my friend, for you.
’Tis a message from above, Hallelujah!
Jesus said it, and I know ’tis true. [Refrain]
3 Life is offered unto you. Hallelujah!
Eternal life your soul shall have
If you’ll only look to Him. Hallelujah!
Look to Jesus, who alone can save. [Refrain]
4 I will tell you how I came, Hallelujah!
To Jesus when He made me whole:
’Twas believing on His name, Hallelujah!
I trusted and He saved my soul. [Refrain]
Oh what blessed words indeed! Have you looked up to the cross as Israel looked up to the serpent on the pole in order to live? Looking up to Jesus for forgiveness of sin is just not mouthing it with your lips. I did this as a Catholic but I definitely was not born again. (John 3:3 and John 3:7) It is an actual believing that Christ died for those sins of yours; acceptance of this also requires a biblical repentance. Can you imagine if you told your parents when you were young that you would never lie again but then turned around and lied that very same day? That was not repentance. That was just mouthing something without the intention of changing. Repentance requires a changing of the heart and mind and it produces a changed life! You must change direction – going from giving into your sins and turning in the opposite direction and obeying God’s Word. God’s Word says 2Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. This is where many so-called Christians go wrong. They blabbed a prayer thinking this would make them OK in God’s eyes. But God wants the fruits of repentance in our lives to shine forth. Matthew 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: One who has not repented from their sins cannot bring forth good Christian fruit. It will be a struggle for that person. Others will see that your old life has never changed and won’t want that “Jesus” that you say you have in your heart. However, for the Christian, repentance brings us closer to Jesus Christ and we no longer desire to sin. We want to please Him and live for Him. A Christian is not “sinless” but a Christian does sin less than when he first was born again.
Do you know Him personally or do you only know of Him? I want to be sure that anyone who reads the posts on this blog can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are going to Heaven. Have you received Christ as your Saviour? If no, your sins are not covered by His sacrificial offering of Himself. You have not been redeemed by His blood. It is no coincidence that God has placed you here for such a time as this so that you may be saved if you are not already. Please click here and the link will open up in a separate tab to You Can Be Born Again and Know It!
