He came down so we can rise up

Before Christ came into my life, I read a book in which the author believed gods from out there somewhere had come to earth leaving evidence such as crop circles and other hard to explain phenomena. It didn’t take me down that path but did suggest that God DESCENDED to this earth. I’d heard the gospel without remembering it, but this time that idea sparked something in my heart. Did God actually visit this planet? Now I know that He did.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God . . . . And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1; 14)

The Hebrew verb for descend is to move downward and lower (whether to a physical or abstract location or some other location culturally determined to be downward). It describes the Lord coming down in a pillar of cloud or fire to direct His people after the Exodus from slavery in Egypt.

The Greek word has the same meaning. It is used to describe the Holy Spirit descending like a dove on Jesus, the angel of the Lord that descended from heaven and rolled back the stone from Jesus’ tomb and sat on it, and the fact that Jesus both descended from heaven and ascended back to that place.

No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. (John 3:13)

In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. (Ephesians 4:9–10)

God came to earth putting on humanity to become fully man yet also fully God. This descent was one of humility for He choose to live as a man, relying on His Father to give Him all He needed to do His will. In this way, He is not only my Savior from sin but my example of how to live as a Christian. I am also to rely on the Father for all things, including the will to do His will and the empowerment, meaning a godly attitude of heart with words that reflect His words and thoughts and actions that show His love and character.

Jesus came to give His life for sinful people. He demonstrated the love of God at great cost, yet in doing this, He defeated death and offers us that same victory. All those who believe in Him are “in Christ” and in Christ there is no further condemnation. Not only that, He promises to take all who believe, whether alive at the time or from their graves, into His heavenly realm to be with Him forever, forever alive.

For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:15–18)

GAZE INTO HIS GLORY. I am encouraged by these words. Whether death comes by illness (Covid) or being hit by a truck or any other means, it will come. Yet the promise of God is not about death but about life, life that is forever with Jesus. His death and resurrection prove His power over death and His promises assure that His people will have that same experience. Today and every day I want to encourage everyone with His promises. That often means descending or going to wherever they are to share the good news that Jesus is faithful —He will accomplish every promise in He made and fulfill all the reasons He descended to this messed up world.