Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Arches - Chaser - Search (07/03/25)
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TITLE: Down From His Glory | Previous Challenge Entry
By Ruby Isaac
07/10/25 -
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Can you picture the image of Diogenes, possibly with a long white beard—perhaps with his lit lantern held high—searching hopelessly in a pagan society for someone who does not exist? Yet he persisted in his quest. As far as we know, until his dying day, Diogenes futilely continued to search and search and search for an honest man.
Meanwhile, sages from the East traveled across an Asian desert in search of humanity’s long-promised Redeemer. Guided by a bright star, they found him in Bethlehem of Judea exactly as prophesied [Matthew 2:1-2, 5 KJV]. Jesus temporarily laid aside his glory—but not his deity—when he took upon himself human flesh and yet uniquely remained the perfect sinless Son of God. Down from his glory he came to accomplish his search and rescue mission on behalf of lost sinful man. ”And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” [Phil. 2:8 KJV]
In sharp contrast to Diogenes, Jesus was not searching for an honest man. Quite the contrary. Luke 19:10 ESV declares, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” He was seeking lost men who were dishonest by nature so that he might redeem them. That was his loving, gracious purpose. He left heaven’s glory in search of lost souls, not honest men. From the beginning, from the first man—Adam, Jesus Christ alone was qualified to pay the penalty for sin. His once-for-all sacrifice for man’s hopeless condition fulfilled the exacting demands of the Mosaic Law.
With the coming of Jesus came a new covenant of grace, mercy, and forgiveness. For all who believe and trust Jesus as Savior, our sins are gone. “It is finished,” he cried on the cross, referring to the plan of salvation. Our sins, faults, failures, idols, cynicism, eccentricities, oddities, two-facedness, ugly thoughts, selfishness, impure motives, apathy—all are imputed to Christ on the cross in exchange for his imputed perfect righteousness to us. Amazing. Down from his glory he came, searching for lost souls.
The beloved pastor of the small local church that our family attends has diligently studied and faithfully taught the Scriptures for 45 years. (More than that if you count his youth ministry and internship during seminary.) He often reminds us of what he calls, “Four New Covenant Blessings.” All are specifically prophesied in the Old Testament. They are:
(1) Full forgiveness of sin
(2) The indwelling of the Holy Spirit
(3) A heart that seeks after God
(4) The hope of eternal life
Very soon now, the trumpet will sound and we shall rise to meet the Lord in the air. [I Corinthians 15:52 KJB] Oh, what a joy that will be. We will be given new glorified bodies. Like his. We will no longer struggle with sin--or sickness or sorrow or suffering. Our lives today should be about our King’s business. Keep looking up, watching and waiting. He is coming soon.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
[Psalm 139:23-24 KJV]
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