God runs the whole universe

God runs the whole universe. From Satan, to sunsets, to car-wrecks, to global warming, to sex--he's completely in charge.

He made all things, and made them good.

Our first parents, Adam and Eve, told him to that he was a liar ("we won't really die") and that they should be God. Such rebellion introduced death, disease, futility and malfunctions into the world. We inherited a rotten nature from Adam and carry his rebellion on today. How can we prove our rebellious nature? We know that something/someone everlasting and powerful made a world full of beautiful things, but we give it/him less than 60 seconds of thought or thanks a day.

God, who foreknew our rebellion, initiated toward us with goodness. Goodness through food and sunshine. Also goodness through pain, that we might see the terribleness and futility of rebellion and turn back to him. He also gave his law to us through prophets to show us how to turn back and live for him.

All have broken the law and lack the glory of God.

Lastly, God sent his own son, Jesus, to us; born of a woman 2,000 years ago. Jesus loved God and loved his neighbor like we are supposed to. At every point where we have lied and stolen, Jesus was tempted like us but without sin.

When Jesus was crucified, he had harmed no one, but people spat on him, pulled his beard, mocked him, the Romans lashed his back with a scourge, ran nails through his hands and feet and hung him on a cross until he died. And worse than that--much worse than physical pain--God the father forsook him on the cross. The wrath God has in store for a violent, God-belittling humanity was emptied out upon Jesus. He made him sin who knew no sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God.

More than just forgiveness! For God's chosen, he credits Jesus' beautiful life as theirs. He sees Christ's record; and not your filthy one. At the cross Jesus takes on all your grossness and cleanses you of it. And all this can never be taken away.

Jesus, after being buried, rose again on the third day. He ascended to heaven and all authority belongs to him. He will judge every single person on the last day.

Don't like injustice in the world? God has set a day to judge all things and set them right. His special love for his chosen people met that justice at the cross of Jesus Christ.

Without that cross, you will receive a fair judgment from God. Fair = an everlasting prison sentence to a horrible place designed to torment Satan and his angels. It is only fair, for God is infinitely valuable. And we all have treated his worth and beauty as ridiculous and preferred less-satisfying lovers all of our lives.

Lord, save me.