The Other Side

THE OTHER SIDE

In Ecclesiastes we learned that there is two sides to all things. We see in life the running of conflicting situations, issues and purposes. We have surly lived long enough to know that “behind every cloud is a silver lining.” A tree stands and it falls. We have a new thing and it soon is old. We get our body “brand spanking new.” Two seconds later aging has occurred. We live and we pass over to the other side. Of all the certainties and disillusionment of life, we must know that the choice between Satan and The Lord Jesus, is of paramount in importance. If you do not know Him, pass over into eternal life. On this side of life is death for those who do not do so.

In Gods word we find many incidences of the two faces of man. Though masks are worn by some, on the other side of the mask is still the man who is the man without the mask. The face of man cannot be hidden from God. God will not hide his face from those who love the Lord. It’s the face in the mirror that reflects the true side of our character. It will not show the other side.

Although there are many two dimensional situations in life, they are perceptions only. We live in a three dimensional world; width, depth and height. There is always the other side. That makes all the difference.

Luke 10: 30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

Though we often hear people condemning the Jews who passed by without giving aid while a Gentile from another city came down and rendered all necessary aid. Certainly this Samaritan did what was right in the sight of the Lord. But, the other two individuals had gone through the process of cleaning themselves in order to enter the temple and intercede with God for sins. To touch any dead thing was a contamination that would render them unable to perform the rituals under penalty of death. They came not near nor did they defile their cleanliness by passing close by the man. They could not do God’s will because tradition, ritual and legalistic guidelines practiced religious ordinances of man prevented their service to man and God. “So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” We must take care that worship does not cross over to the other side from service to habitual repetition of a former stale condition. Jesus made the sacrifice to correct this confused generation. All can crossover from wrong to right.

Colossians 2:14 “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Jesus walked upon His earth across from His opposite; Satan. He never crossed over the line between good and evil; sin and righteousness. He was without sin. He made a new path for us to follow.

Matthew 14:22 “And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away..It isn’t in the crowd that Christ works best but a willing few. Philippians 3:18 “(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:”1 Corinthians 1:18 “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish is foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

We know that Jesus gave Himself as a sacrifice for our sins. Having bathed in His shed blood we walk not in darkness as do those who perish.

JOHN 19: 16 “And they took Jesus, and led him away. 17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: 18 Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.

Both crucified with Jesus were thieves. But, on one side was a foolish lover of the world while on the other side a repentant child of God. Jesus died that day along with both men. He took their sins, as well as yours and mine, to the grave. But the grave could not hold Jesus long. Hebrews 9:28 “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. Mark 16:5 “And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.” Jesus’ body was not there for he had concurred death and hell and arose back to life glorified. This we believe and preach.

2 Corinthians 4: 5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.” Amen. Know God, Know peace. 03-26-2020 BLL