Today I have some very encouraging news for you from "Grace Inspirations" by Joseph Prince!
GOD WILL NEVER TURN HIS BACK ON YOU
Hebrews 13:5…He Himself has said, “I will never leave you
nor forsake you.”
For six whole hours, the Son of God was suspended between
heaven and earth. And at the height of His suffering on the cross, He cried out
in the deep darkness, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew
27:45–46).
For the first time, Jesus addressed His Father as “God.” The
Father had forsaken the Son. As Judge of the universe, God had to turn His back
on His Son, who was carrying the filth of the world’s sins, for His eyes are
too pure to behold evil (see Habakkuk 1:13).
If the Father had not turned His back on His Son, He would
have to turn His back on you today when you call out to Him in your hour of
need. But because Jesus has taken your place, today, you take His place, and
you have God’s face smiling on you always!
Right now, God’s face is smiling on you. His countenance is
shining on you. I can stand before you and declare, “The Lord make His face
shine upon you” (Numbers 6:25–26). And it is all because Jesus has paid the
price for God to never leave you nor forsake you (see Hebrews 13:5).
As Judge, God turned His back on His Son. But as Father, He
cried. His heart was broken because Christ was never more pleasing to Him than
when He was on the cross. Christ’s suffering was a sweet-smelling aroma to the
Father (see Ephesians 5:2).
Do you remember what Jesus said? “Therefore My Father loves
Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again” (John 10:17). If you
are a parent, you love each one of your children equally. But when one of them
does something special for you out of love, it touches your heart, and you just
want to run to him and hug him.
That was what happened at the cross, except that the Father
could not embrace His Son. Instead, He had to turn His back on His Son because
our sins had to be punished in His Son’s body.
Beloved, when you cry out to the Father for help today, know
that He hears you and will surely help you. Because of Jesus, He will never
turn His back on you!
Shalom in Him!