In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth
(Genesis 1:1).

God also created humans in His own image. We were meant to live in perfect fellowship with Him. Under His blessing we were to rule a beautiful earth.¹

_{1. Genesis 1:26-31, Psalm 8}

And behold it was very good
(Genesis 1:31).

All Creation was in a state of perfect shalom. Eternal life was within direct reach.¹

Until . . .

_{1. Genesis 2:8-9}

The first man and woman disobeyed God and did not resist evil. They rebelled – and fellowship with our Creator was broken.¹

Result:
humanity became utterly corrupted.² God’s diagnosis of our condition became:

The intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth
(Genesis 8:21).

<sub>1. Genesis 3
2. Psalm 14:2-3, Psalm 51:5, Psalm 143:2</sub>

Even Israel, God’s chosen people, failed to keep His covenant¹ – just as He predicted through Moses:

They will forsake Me and break My covenant that I made with them
(Deuteronomy 31:17).

The terrible judgment of an absolutely Holy God is awaiting all of us.² Because of our corruption and disobedience our penalty is just.

But . . .

<sub>1. See e.g. 2 Kings 17:15, Jeremiah 11:10, Ezekiel 16:59, Hosea 6:7
2. See e.g. Nahum 1:1-6</sub>

The Promise

Our Creator promised from the very beginning to send a conqueror of evil.¹ Blessing would come again, for all the families of the earth, through Abraham’s offspring.²

God promised a perfect redeemer: a special righteous descendant of King David who would be both human and divine³; king and priest.⁴

<sub>1. Genesis 3:15, Genesis 49:8-12, Numbers 24:15-19
2. Genesis 12:3, Genesis 26:4, Genesis 28:14
3. 2 Samuel 23:1-7, Jeremiah 23:5-6, Isaiah 9:1-7, Isaiah 11:1-10, Isaiah 42:1-9, Isaiah 49:5-9, Psalm 2, Psalm 45
4. Jeremiah 30:21-22, Zechariah 6:6-13, Psalm 110</sub>

God also promised to establish a new covenant based on the intercession of this perfect mediator. This covenant would deal with the problem of sin.

Behold the days are coming says the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and Judah . . . For I will forgive their iniquity and I will remember their sin no more”
(Jeremiah 31:31,34).

God kept His promise and sent us Jesus the Messiah. He fulfilled the prophecies in the scriptures. He gave His perfect life as a substitute sacrifice for all our sins.

He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; but the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all
(Isaiah 53:5-6).

According to scripture, the Messiah also lived again.¹ He ascended to the right hand of God as our heavenly mediator. As David wrote:

The LORD said to my lord: ‘sit at my right hand . . . you are priest forever’
(Psalm 110:1,4).

Jesus the Messiah will return with the glory of heaven. This time He will be welcomed by His people Israel. As the LORD himself said:

they will look on Me whom they pierced (Zechariah 12:10).

According to the Prophets, Jesus will reign forever:

And behold with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man
(Daniel 7:14).

and

of the increase of His government and shalom there will be no end
(Isaiah 9:7).

All who repent and put their trust in Jesus the Messiah as their perfect sacrifice will not perish in God’s righteous judgment. Rather, those who believe in Jesus will live in eternal shalom, in God’s presence, in a gloriously renewed Jerusalem.¹

Blessed are all who take refuge in Him
(Psalm 2:12).

_{1. See e.g. Isaiah 11:6-9, Isaiah 51:11, Isaiah 54:9-14}

What is your place in this story? Is God’s righteous judgment still awaiting you? Or have you already been rescued by trusting the Messiah and becoming a sure participant in the eternal Shalom?

Make sure the latter is the case: Turn to God and trust in the Messiah who gave His life for all our sins.

God beckons you: On behalf of Messiah be reconciled to Me!¹

Turn to Me and be saved all the ends of the earth
(Isaiah 45:22).

_{1. 2 Corinthians 5:20}

In this way you become a citizen of the future City of Peace, Jerusalem, to which God promises:

“For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed but My steadfast love shall not depart from you, and My covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the LORD who has compassion on you
(Isaiah 54:10).