Backward to Forward, Down to Up: Even Jesus Descended to Ascend

 

Our Christian life is not static, but marked by ups and downs, often seeming like three steps backward for every two steps forward. But God allows and uses these setbacks for our instruction, growth, and ultimate spiritual victory.

In the Psalms, David not only thanked God for lifting him from the deep pit of his sin and despair (Psalm 9:15; 28:1; 30:3; 40:2), but further prophesied that even Jesus Himself would descend to the depths of hell, where God the Father would not allow Him to be corrupted (Psalms 16:10). Several of the ages, dispensations or pivot points of Biblical history are marked by the movement of Jesus downward to once again ascend upward.

In contrast, the path of Satan is always relentlessly downward. God created him as Lucifer, the most beautiful, wise and talented angel of light, the covering angel protecting God’s throne. But he fell to the sin of pride, wanting to exalt himself above God’s throne and Name, so God cast him out of His third Heaven to the skies and earth below, from there to be brought down to hell (Isaiah 14:12-17; Ezekiel 28:13-19).

Lucifer thus became Satan, prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2) and temporary ruler of this world (Ephesians 6:12; 1 John 4:4). After the revelation and second coming of Jesus Christ, Satan will be defeated at the battle of Armageddon and chained in the bottomless pit, under the earth, for one thousand years. Although he will be let loose briefly at the conclusion of the Millennial Kingdom, his ultimate destiny is the even lower depths of the lake of fire (Revelation 19:11-21; 20:1-3,10).

Satan, as a created being, must answer to God despite his rebellion, whereas Jesus is Himself God and Creator. Christ willingly left His heavenly throne to descend to earth in human form (John 1:1,14), born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14) in the lowliest of circumstances (Luke 2:7), born to die as the perfect sacrifice to reconcile sinful man to Holy God (Hebrews 10:1-14), and to rise again so that all who trust Him will have eternal life (1 Corinthians 15:20-22).

Once Jesus had given up the ghost on Calvary’s cross, Jesus fulfilled the prophecy recorded by David in the Psalms by descending into the heart of the earth (Matthew 12:40), or Hades, which at that time was divided into two compartments separated by an impenetrable barrier (Luke 16:19-31). Hell was the compartment designed for the devil and his angels, and the place of eternal torment for those who were doomed because they did not believe and trust God.

The other compartment, known as Paradise (Luke 16:19-31), which means garden of God, or Abraham’s bosom, was a place of peace, joy and comfort for those who were saved by faith. The thief on the cross who called Jesus Lord and asked Him to remember him when He came into His kingdom thus proved his submission to Christ and His faith that He was indeed the promised Messiah. Jesus answered him, “Today shalt thou be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:42-43).

After the death of their bodies, the soul and spirit of Jesus and of that thief then descended into Paradise. There Jesus gathered all the saved souls and elevated them with Him to the third heaven (Ephesians 4:8-10), which is now the abode of Paradise and of the souls of those who go home to be with the Lord (2 Corinthians 12:2-4).

On the third day after His physical death, Jesus descended from Heaven to earth, then in His glorified body of flesh and bone (Luke 24:39), that had a visible (John 20:14), tangible, recognizable form; that could eat; and that could pass through walls (Luke 24:36-43).

Forty days later, after numerous appearances to His disciples and to other witnesses (Acts 1:3), He rose upward into Heaven, where He is now at the right hand of God the Father (Mark 16:19-20; Acts 2:33-34; 7:55; Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3; 8:1; etc.). There He acts as our intercessor in prayer to the Father (Romans 8:34) and our advocate defending us from Satan’s accusations (1 John 2:1; Revelation 12:10).

Praise God, one day Jesus Christ will descend part of the way to earth, at the same time catching up all those who died in Him and all those believers who still remain alive, to meet with Him in the air! We will then all be in our glorified bodies and live with Him forever! (1 Corinthians 15:51-57; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).

After the Judgment Seat of Christ (Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10) and the Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9) in Heaven, we will descend to earth as His armies, when He appears in the clouds in power and glory and descends to conquer death, sin and Satan (1 Corinthians 15: 24-28) with the Word of His mouth!

After renovation of the heavens and earth by fire (2 Peter 3:10), the heavenly city, New Jerusalem, will descend from Heaven like a radiant bride prepared for her Husband (Revelation 3:12; 21:2), Jesus Christ the Bridegroom, where we will rule and reign forever with Him!  

© 2017 Laurie Collett

Reposted from the archives

God’s Signature: The Crucifix Fish

Photo by Laurie Collett 3/8/2019

When signing his paintings, Pablo Picasso typically underlined his name and placed the signature at a slight angle to the frame. Albrecht Dürer always identified his art, whether a sketch or detailed masterpiece, with his famed “AD” trademark that was part of the artistic composition.

Some artists use a signature to indicate that the work is complete, as a reminder to themselves not to return to it and “gild the lily.” Others sign their work on the back or on the side of the canvas that is stretched over the frame, so as not to distract from the subject of the painting.

Although art lovers can easily recognize the distinctive greatness of a painting by Leonardo da Vinci, this Renaissance master never signed his works, because they were commissioned by others. Rembrandt signed his paintings but very seldom his drawings, so most of these are attributed to him solely on the basis of style.

Regardless of whether or not they included their signature, the amazing creativity of all these artists and the beauty of their works can be explained by the fact that they, like all mankind, were created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27). He is not only the Creator but the Master Designer (Psalm 19:1). Anyone who draws, paints, sculpts, designs clothing, or even decorates and beautifies their home is reflecting God’s creative genius. The same is true for writers, composers, performing artists, and inventors.

As the supreme Artist, God takes pleasure in signing His work by leaving a subtle or gloriously replete reminder of Who He is and what He did. The sheer number of plant and animal species and variations within species attests to His greatness (Genesis 1:11-12; 20-26), and even those numbers are dwarfed by the number of grains of sand in the earth's deserts and beaches (Genesis 32:12).

Yet scientists estimate that there are 10 times more stars in the night sky than there are grains of sand on our planet. Astronomers currently believe that the number of galaxies in the observable universe exceeds 170 billion, occupying a sphere with a radius of 13.8 billion light-years. Multiplying the number of stars in our galaxy by the number of galaxies in the universe results in an estimate of 10²⁴ stars, or 1 followed by 24 zeros, and our God knows each one of them by name! (Psalm 147:4)

But God is great not only in His vastness, but in His attention to the most minute details that add meaning to His creation in ways that could not possibly be explained by any postulated evolutionary advantage. What advantage could there be to a sunflower or seashell having the Fibonacci sequence, or golden ratio, incorporated into its structure? Rather, it testifies to the mathematical precision and perfection of the One Who created them (Deuteronomy 32:4; 2 Samuel 22:31; Psalm 18:30).

Evolutionists might argue that the bright colors and patterns in various flowers attract birds and insects that aid in pollination. But only God would design flowers to look like dancing ladies or intricate animal faces, to bring pleasure to us as well as to Himself! Only God would design healthful fruits and vegetables to look like the human organ they benefit, as a prescription from the Great Physician. For example, eating pomegranates enhances breast health; walnuts boost brain function; and kidney beans not only resemble kidneys but promote renal health, just to name a few.

The number three, reflecting the Trinity of God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16-17), is prevalent throughout nature. Matter exists in three states; space consists of three dimensions; and time is either past, present or future. Everything we see is either in the sky, on land, or in the sea, and can be describes as animal, vegetable, or mineral.

God’s story is told even in the lowly sand dollar, adorned with engravings of the Easter lily, the pointsettia, and the Star of Bethlehem (Matthew 2:2-10). It is pierced by five holes reminding us of the wounds in Jesus’ hands, feet and side as He suffered on the cross (Luke 24:39-40; John 19:34), and it contains dove-shaped fragments as a symbol of peace and the Spirit (Mark 1:10; John 1:32).

I have thought about these various ways in which God “signs” His creation for quite some time. But as my husband and I were beachcombing last week, an unusual find really brought this concept home for me. Sticking up and partially buried in a mound of sand was a sharp, bleached object I did not recognize. As I gently unearthed it and rinsed it in the sea, I was amazed to see an intricately detailed sculpture of what appeared to be Jesus on the cross on one side, and Christ ascending into heaven (Acts 1:9-11), seen from behind, on the reverse side!

Further research revealed that this was the skull of a sail catfish, also known as a “crucifix fish.” Urban (or should I say maritime) legend is that God’s blessings will come to one who finds a sail catfish skull, particularly to fishermen. When shaken, the skull makes a rattling sound because of calcified otoliths, or ear stones within it, which has been likened to the sound made by the dice thrown as the Roman soldiers gambled for Christ’s robe (John 19:23-24). On the reverse is said to be the imprint of a Roman shield, and the hilt of the sword is visible where it plunged into His side.  

Like other members of the catfish family, the sail catfish would be considered unclean in Mosaic law because it has no scales (Leviticus 11:10-12), and this designation is fitting as it is a bottom feeder that predominantly scavenges rather than capturing its prey.

How astounding that God would tell His story by sculpting it into the skull of an unclean animal, as if to emphasize that He came not for the righteous, but to save sinners (Matthew 9:11-13). Although we are born unclean because of the curse of sin Adam’s disobedience brought upon the world, Jesus Christ was the perfect, holy Sacrifice Who died on the cross to pay for all our sins (Romans 5:12-21), and to rise again the third day (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) so that all who trust in Him have eternal life (John 3:16).

Romans 1: 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.

God speaks to His children primarily through His Word, but may we be attuned to and blessed by the amazing messages He has carved into His creation!  

© 2019 Laurie Collett

 

Photo by Laurie Collett 3/8/2019