It is finished (By Sergio Occhiochiuso 1994) part 6
=====================================================
Look and live.
In my search for a fresh revelation of the cross, I have read many passages of scripture and every one of them brought me many wonderful truths. However, I needed to know the true meaning of the Cross. At times I sat in my office at home, listening to some beautiful music or songs and relax before the Lord and I repeat over and over again “Lord teach me about the Cross”.
One day I woke up with these words, “look and live”. These words kept on coming all day. I knew that Moses spoke these words, but I could not remember where, the next step was the Concordance.
Num 21:5-9:- We find once again the Israelites complaining about Moses and the Lord. They again regretted that they had ever left
This sound like some people I know, they sound like many people around the world today, never happy with what they have and always wanting more, never happy with their health, moaning all the time, when instead they should be grateful for what they have. However, no matter what happens to them they believe the Lord is always to blame for their misfortunes. Without even thinking that perhaps, they are partly to blame for the negative situation they found themselves
The Israelites did not see that it was because of their disobedience they were wandering around the desert.
It was so easy for them to blame Moses and the Lord. It was so easy to find a “scapegoat” for their misfortunes so long it was not them. I have met many people at the Centre who came through the doors in such a state that one hardly recognised them as human beings. The alcoholic blamed somebody else for finding themselves in a bad way, the drug addict blamed someone else who introduced them to drugs, it seems we are so good to blame others rather than to admit, the reason we find ourselves in trouble is because of a decision that we have made. It is better to pass the proverbial “buck”, rather than to be honest with one-self.
The Israelites blamed Moses and the Lord for their situation. The Lord sent to this ungrateful people “fiery serpents” that brought destruction and death to the ungrateful nation. However, when the people came to Moses recognising their sins, and asked Moses to plead on their behalf to the Lord. Moses prayed that the Lord would forgive. The Lord told Moses to make a bronze replica of a “fiery serpent” to put on a pole and when someone would look at it, would be healed. Moses must have shouted to the people to attract their attentions Look and live” is not what Jesus did for us? 1 It not what our Heavenly Father did? He saw us living a life of death, our mind and body riddled with sin and in His determination to save the alcoholic, the drug addict, the homosexual, the prostitute, the rebellious children, the criminal, and everyone else. He sent His Son born of a virgin so that He could be put on the cross and shout “Look and Live, I forgive you”. You do not have to live a desolate life, you do not have to exist, and I want you to live. Can you hear the Lord’s voice calling? Can you see that at the cross life was procreated? Can you now see that Is through the cross that there is salvation, healing, deliverance, and freedom? Turn to the cross, and be free from alcohol, turn to the cross and you can be free from drugs, turn to the cross and you can be free from your sexual hang—ups, turn to the cross and you will be healed, turn to the cross and you will be delivered -Hallelujah
Look and live - not a glance, but a steady look, a look that will absorb the love of God, a look that will make you see the reality of the sacrifice of Jesus. He died for you and me.
