The found testament

Monday, August 30, 2021

The found testament

God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

A testament is a document that expresses a person's last wishes. In particular, he designates by name the person or persons to whom she gives her property after her death.

Sometimes testaments are lost, having been abandoned, buried among irrelevant documents or old books. This is what the Bible has become for many men : a book that we study for its antiquity, for its literary form, for its historical value... but no part of God's message is received.

Imagine leafing through one of those old documents and discovering a testament with my name on it. What astonishment ! What until then was just any object takes on a whole different interest. I will now be able to avail myself of this document to request that the goods given to me be attributed to me.

So it is with the Bible. It is made up of two testaments (or covenants) : the Old and the New Testament. In the Old Testament that God had made for the Jews, many blessings were promised to them, subject to obedience. But not having obeyed, they lost everything.

God then writes a "New Testament" ; this time it is for all men, Jews and non-Jews, because it is founded on Christ, his atoning death first (see Hebrews 9:14-17), then his resurrection. Everything is a gift of grace.

In order for me to be a beneficiary of the Testament, my name must be written there, of course ! Amazed, I find that this is indeed so. In today's verse, I have the right to put my name in place of anyone, and so do you. God does not exclude any name from his Testament.

This generous God who loved the world so much, what does he give me on the basis of the death of Jesus Christ ? Eternal life. I believe and accept for myself such a precious gift ! And I go from wonder to wonder as I read all the promises in the New Testament. I find that he... who did not spare his own Son... will freely give all things to us with him (Romans 8:32).

Yes, he must love me, the One who made such a Testament !

Source (Pleasing the Lord)