“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life,” John 3.16.
Long before we were born or knew anything about faith, sacrifice was God’s solution to the serious problem created by Adam, when he disobeyed and caused the entire human race to be driven out from the presence of God. What happened as a result is that the devil robbed man of his God-given authority, and established his kingdom on earth.
Faced with no alternative, God decided to Sacrifice His Son Jesus on Mt Calvary. He could have sent Gabriel, Michael or some other angel. And yet, to bring about total defeat of the devil, in such a way that he would never be able to rise again, and to achieve His dream of reconciliation for mankind and the formation of a nation for Himself, He made His Sacrifice (His Son).
The Sacrifice was born, grew up and overcame.
The Sacrifice said:
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly,” John 10.10.
“… I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me,” John 14.6.
“And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son,” John 14.13.
“… I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life,” John 8.12.
The devil said to the Sacrifice: “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?” Matthew 8.29.
“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you,” John 15.18.
Reading over this last verse, I understand why many who used to be with us, and turned away, hate sacrifice so much. They have become friends of the world.
Abraham is the father of faith because he was obedient to God’s voice, and to the path of sacrifice.
Abraham enjoyed a life of abundance, died at good old age and had received all that he had asked for, through sacrifice. He was enlightened because he followed the light of sacrifice. He defeated the demons that used four kings to kidnap his nephew Lot, and through obedience to the tormentor of hell — sacrifice — he was hated by those unbelieving kings who, without a doubt, were friends of this world.
What about you? Will you also walk the path of sacrifice in order to enjoy an abundant life, receive all that you ask for, be surrounded by the Light of life, torment the devil and be hated by the world because you live by faith in the Sacrifice, Jesus?
God bless you,
Bishop Sergio Correia.