Moments for the Heart

“Eloi Eloi Lema Sabachthani?”

The famous words many of know. Jesus is hanging on the cross in his final moments of life. For those unfamiliar, it translates, “My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?” Jesus looks up to the heavens, and it’s beginning to get dark not only on the land but within His spirit. Remember, Jesus is fully human as He is fully God. The pain and weight of the entire world’s sin rests upon Him at this moment. Never is there a darker moment in history than right now. Blood pours from his brow, mingling with his tears; He suddenly feels forsaken. He knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that His Father is there, yet He reaches out and suddenly wonders. His human side wonders. Is God really there? Is MY Father there?

“Eloi, Eloi, Lema Sabachthani?”

The Bible teaches us that Christ was tempted in every way yet that he was without sin. Now, to doubt is not a sin. To give into doubt, is. We all question if God is really there from time to time. At the end of it all, after Jesus utters these words, He knew where He stood. He is His Father’s, and He commits His spirit into His Father’s hands and dies, passing through eternity’s gate and back home to where He came from. Christ dies overcoming the question He uttered, looking up to His Father in Heaven who was always there, even if His Father could not look on the sin He bore. God WAS there.

We have that same assurance. God is there. He is always there. No matter what sin we bear. There is no sin in our life that God will turn away from. We could bear the weight of the entire world, and God can see through it and us when we have a repentant heart and give it all to him. Many of you know me and the life from which I have come. God had given me a new life, and I have been restored on numerous occasions. He can give you that new life as well. He has always been there; I have never had to doubt. But you know my storms. He knew my storms. He knows your storms too.

“Eloi, Eloi, Lema Sabachthani?”

When you face those dark moments and can only see the bottom when you look up, understand that God is only a prayer away. He will not forsake you. He will not leave you alone. His Word promises so. Trust in Him. He did not abandon his Son. Jesus may’ve had a glimmer of disconnect and concern, but He never was disconnected from the love of his Father, who had Him in the palm of His hand—since the plan of Creation. The culmination of what had been started from Genesis 1:1 occurred through Christ on the cross, then Christ in us; the hope of glory. He is here and right now. Jesus’ human side may have been at war with Christ’s heavenly fact. But guess who won? … “Into your hands, I commit my spirit.” Jesus said. Jesus knew His Father was listening, and Jesus trusted.

But that was not the end of it. If His death was it, it was all meaningless. That Sunday morning, the earth shook, the stone rolled away, and a garment was neatly folded. Death was defeated, and that same Jesus walked out of that borrowed tomb. Any doubt that was had been overcome and sins ransom had been paid. Jesus was alive, and we have hope. God has not forsaken us; even if we begin to doubt, we are in good company.