Posted on 12/08/2023 1:15:57 AM PST by metmom
"He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature" (Heb. 1:3). Jesus is both God manifest and God in substance.
Just as the rays of the sun give light, warmth, life, and growth to the earth, so Jesus Christ is the glorious light of God shining into the hearts of men and women. As "the radiance of God's glory," Jesus expresses God to us. No one can see God in His full glory; no one ever will. The radiance of that glory that reaches us from God appears in the Person of Jesus Christ.
Just as the sun was never without and can never be separated from its brightness, so God was never without and cannot be separated from the glory of Christ. Never was God without Him or He without God, and never in any way can He be separated from God. Yet the brightness of the sun is not the sun, and neither is Jesus exactly the same as God in that sense. He is fully and absolutely God, yet as a distinct Person within the triune Godhead.
Jesus said, "I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life" (John 8:12). As the radiance of God's glory, Christ can transmit that light into your life and mine so that we can radiate the glory of God to a dark world.
In using the term "exact representation" to describe Christ's relationship to God's nature, the writer employs terminology usually associated with an impression reproduced on a seal by a die or stamp. Jesus Christ is the reproduction of God—the perfect, personal imprint of God in time and space.
How wonderful to realize that Jesus Christ, who is both the full expression of God and exact reproduction of God's nature in human history, can come into our lives and give us light to see and to know God! His light is the source of our spiritual life. And His light gives us purpose, meaning, happiness, peace, joy, fellowship, everything—for all eternity.
Suggestion for Prayer
Thank God that He determined to become a man so we could know what He is like.
For Further Study
Read 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 and note who allows people to see or not see spiritually.
From Drawing Near by John MacArthur Copyright © 1993. Used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, IL 60187, www.crossway.com.
Studying God’s Word ping
Awesome🙏
The ambulance arrived in about 5 minutes but in those moments of waiting the terrifying struggle to find any breath continued unabated. ...then their came that still moment when I knew I might not make it , saying in my heart to the Lord - “Is this how I'm going out?”..... ...That very moment I knew the full meaning of Gods “Breath of Life”........out of nowhere enough breath came to unlock the door and sit down though still struggling.
Needles saying the MTS arrived with oxygen and hauled me to my first ever ride ever in an ambulance. Emergency crew at hospital were quick to hook me up and very soon identified what was happening. I was having rare larynx spasms....which those muscles rub back and forth against each other interfering in ones breathing. And they don't know the specific cause this can happen but it is rare and likely I will never have it again as with most who have experienced this.
I have often thought of that moment I felt like I was about to leave our world to go home....and God stepping in with ‘His Breath of Life’. ....to read of it is one thing to experience Him giving it in a dire need of a traumatic event happening to you is beyond describing. But I was surely visited by the glorious hand of my God and Savior!
Thank you for letting me share this here.
CAWW
Genesis 3:21-23
21 And the LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and He clothed them.
22 Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil. And now, lest he reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever...”
23 Therefore the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken.…
Thinking you’re close to dying can be terrifying. God gave us a will to live and that kicks in no matter how ready we feel to leave this world.
I’m glad you’re OK. Thanks for sharing that.
He is on call 24/7. Glad it worked out for you.
This story brought something to mind for me. One day I went with my son & granddaughter to a Mexican food place she suggested. I had ordered something that upon tasting it, I decided it needed a bit more flavor. I tried a little of the hot sauce that was available. Right after a good taste of it, & a little time afterwards I had the odd feeling of something wrong in my throat & was having trouble getting a good breath. It wore off later & there were no more problems. I had no idea what it was & had never experienced anything like it before, but after you had mentioned larynx spasms, I have to wonder if that wasn’t exactly what was happening to me. It happened so fast, I hardly had time to do anything about it, even prayer. Anyway, I am thankful that it has only happened that once. Incidentally, it will be the last time I sample that particular hot sauce, tho I’ve tried many kinds in the past without any similar experience.
Great topic. Facts that are somewhat difficult to understand with human minds, but we can grasp the essence of it concerning the Father and the Son.
How can Jesus be both God and man at the same time? https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-God-man.html
Does Christ have two natures? https://www.gotquestions.org/Christ-two-natures.html
I've had a few of those ambulance rides this past year and also remember thinking it could be the end. But each time the Holy Spirit comforted me with Psalm 73:23-26
Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Possibly you did have that....the Dr. who treated me had this happen to him so he knew exactly what it was as I stuttered to explain and point to where it felt like somthing was stuck or happening in my throat preventing breathing.
BY th Way - the more you panic the worst it will be - he said....and then you’d pass out.
The idea is to ‘relax’ the muscle by pushing in and down in the hallow place just behind your ear lobe. Also drink water thru a straw.
I tell you I was never so frightend not breathing an even the vocal sounds of gasping terrified me. So when God stepped in with that breath it was so very apparent.
Such an amazing experience...I truly understand Gods “Breath of Life”
Yes indeed it was that still moment in the heat of this I will never forget. I know first hand what not having the “Breath of God” is... and when He gave it. Truly remarkable understanding without question...and not easy to explain.
Then You are well acquainted with what it means to think it could be the end....but I was not afraid that ‘moment alone with just God and me’...when I questioned this. I was jus a moment but profound.
I've also thought of when He returns for us (since this happened). What will it feel like in that moment we're taken up. Will it feel like it did that split second moment when He stepped in?
And yes on the scripture you gave that brought you comfort....I am ready whenever He comes for us. Indeed He is our all and all!...in life and life everlasting with Him
Feeling like you can’t breathe is terrifying.
I’m glad you are better and I’ll keep your advice on how to deal with it in mind.
I had a dream once of the rapture happening. I felt like I was being lifted up and had a joy that was beyond belief.
I remember having my arms raised in praise.....
Then waking up.
But it felt so real. I was very disappointed when I woke up.
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