Godforsaken
I think this definition misses the mark. After all, God can find a town 40 miles from anywhere, and do so without a map. Here is a definition of how we should think of being godforsaken that has much, much more meaning in each of our lives:–adjective (sometimes initial capital letter)
1. desolate; remote; deserted: They live in some godforsaken place 40 miles from the nearest town.
2. wretched; neglected; pitiable.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" which is translated, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?" Mark 15:34 (NASB)Who amongst us can truly say they were forsaken by God? None of us. For look at what He did, giving us His Son to die on our behalf. A physical death on a cross as a human man, a spiritual death that is complete separation from God. That is what this verse says to me, cried out at the instant a man felt the crushing weight of separation from God, something none of us can bear, but which will have to be borne in one specific instance.
If we choose to forsake God, turning our back on our Lord, Jesus Christ.
God will never turn His back on you if you have faith in Him, never. Your life may be no easier, your pain on this earth no less, but you are not Godforsaken. Your eternal rest (security) is assured, you cannot be snatched out of the hand of the Greatest there is. And we have no one but our merciful and gracious God to thank for that.
2 comments:
Andy,
When I was reading A.W. Pink's "The Seven Sayings of the Savior on the Cross", this fourth word was particularly moving to me.
I had never realized the depth of what really happened on the cross. When I began to conceptualize that Christ was forsaken of God, and what that really meant, I was crushed.
I spent an entire week, meditating and seeking to deeply understand this passage. It changed my life.
Thank you for posting this, and I would urge your readers to take a week on this section and let God show you what really happened.
It was significantly more than Christ being put to death, from a humanly point of view.
Here is my post on the subject, if anyone is interested: http://tinyurl.com/be67hy
PS - you are a great brother, and friend.
David:
Thanks! You are thinking deeply and growing in the Lord every minute!
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