"Look . . . and live" (Numbers 21:8)

There was a time when the Israelites in the desert had gotten into so much sin that God sent snakes among them to bite them, and many died. But then God said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived (Numbers 21:8-9). And Jesus -- the final, ultimate Healer -- told Nicodemus, Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life (John 3:14-15). But does Jesus, lifted up, seem too remote? Or does He intimidate you? I'm praying as I write that you'll understand just how personable He is. "Come to me," He says (Matthew 11:28). "Handle me, and see" (Luke 24:39, KJV). How tender He is, how unthreatening! He's wooing you, saying, "Don't be afraid; just believe" (Mark 5:36). He does not fight or shout; He does not raise His voice! He does not crush the weak or quench the smallest hope (Matthew 12:19, TLB). * * * * * God is on one side and all the people on the other side, and Christ Jesus, himself man, is between them to bring them together (1 Timothy 2:5, TLB). * * * * * So come, my friend, I came many years ago. You come, too. Let us draw near with a true heart, in absolute assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled clean from a bad conscience (Hebrews 10:22, Moffatt). For Christ . . . suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God (1 Peter 3:18, KJV). For your personal salvation, what an "unspeakable gift" He is (2 Corinthians 9:15)! -- or as the Living Bible says, a "Gift too wonderful for words." Fix your eyes on Jesus. * * * * * There is no beauty to be discovered anywhere comparable to fixing your eyes on Jesus. There is no life-changing power available anywhere comparable to that gaze.