Sitting down with my Bible and journal the other evening evening, I was reminded once again of the vital importance of keeping the gospel of peace always shod around our feet. The gospel is one of the armor pieces we are to wear in our wrestling match against the principalities and powers in heavenly places. It is relevant to believers and unbelievers alike. It is the key to keeping a grateful spirit, learning humility, being diligent, abhorring sin, and becoming motivated to glorify God.
Isn't it so easy, though, to go throughout the day 'being a good Christian' without remembering to talk to Him, listen to Him, thank Him, and praise Him?
Sometimes I'll stare at something, and all of a sudden it will remind me of the greatest story ever told. Here is a list of 20 things that I come across in everyday situations that remind me of the gospel. Whenever I see them, I try to tell myself the greatest story and thank Him for the ending.
Note: I use and reference lots of Scripture in here. If you have the opportunity, I encourage you to look up as many references as possible. They're all linked. I used every one of them for a purpose, and I think they will give the article a whole new level of meaning. :D
1. Rain
Did you know that many people think that the first time it ever rained was at the Flood?
...For the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to till the ground; but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground. ~ Genesis 2:5-6
Instead, a mist watered the earth until God decided to destroy the people on the earth with the earth. The fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. It would take too long for me to explain what I think this means, and even if I did, I might not be right. And it doesn't matter very much anyway. But I do think that the result of this was rain, for the first time!
For after seven more days I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and I will destroy from the face of the earth all living things that I have made.” ~ Genesis 7:4
The fountains of the deep and the windows of heaven were also stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained. ~ Genesis 8:2
So, every time it rains, it's like a reminder of the judgment that God brought upon the earth because of their wickedness (Genesis 6:5.) We are wicked, too, and deserve judgment, but just like God gave grace to Noah and his family and saved them from the judgment of the Flood (and offered it to all the other people on the earth except they refused - see 2 Peter 2:5, "Noah was a preacher of righteousness") He also offers us mercy through the death of His Son. We too will escape the judgment of the world if we cast our faith, hope, and belief in Jesus Christ and His death, burial, and resurrection.
Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. ~ 1 John 4:17
That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. ~ Romans 10:9
2. Rainbows
The rainbow is a clear banner in the sky that reads, "Mercy." God created it and set it in the sky after the Flood as a sign to Noah and all the generations to come that He would never again destroy the earth with water. (Genesis 9:12-15.)
Regardless of the fact that He would be just to send another flood and destroy us all again because we are just like the people in Noah's day all over again, the rainbow still hangs in the sky, reminding us that God is faithful to be merciful.
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.
~ Lamentations 3:22
The greatest gift of mercy He gave the world was not the rainbow, though. It was His Son, Jesus Christ, who sacrificed His sinless life to cover and take the punishment for the sins of the world.
3. Crosses On Doors
Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. ~ Colossians 2:14
In the last chapter of the book "Home-Making" by J.R. Miller, Mr. Miller describes the origin of the crosses on doors. I would copy it down for you, except I just realized I lent the book to a friend, so I'll do my best to explain it to you. It's pretty simple.
In the middle ages, architects were wanting to incorporate something in their castle designs that would remind everyone of the gospel every day. Doors were ideal, they decided, because they are in practically every room and people have to use them often. So they designed a pattern for doors that has stuck ever since. It's so neat - all of the doors in our house are built with this design. If you have them too, this is a great every-day reminder of the price that Jesus paid for our sins!
4. The Color Red
“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. ~ Isaiah 1:18
There are likely connections between each color and the gospel, but let's look at red. The verse above correlates it with sin. It reminds us of the severity and heavy guilt of it, because it is an act against a God who is impeccably holy, righteous, and good.
Ironically, red is also the color of the blood that Jesus shed on the cross when He willingly took on the punishment we deserve so that we can be righteous in God's sight.
5. Wool
Do you have a wool sweater, blanket, pair of socks, scarf, etc.? Every time you use it, you can be reminded that God's transforming power is truly amazing. (See Isaiah 1:18.)
6. Snow
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
~ Psalm 51:7
Here's a cool snow fort that some siblings and a friend and I formed and then carved last winter:
In between working on it, I ran inside several times to grab things for other people. Every time I did, my eyes had to adjust from the blinding light of the snow outside and the warm lighting inside. Snow is so, so, so white!
And yet the stains of sin that Jesus graciously removes and replaces with His righteousness become whiter than snow! No imperfections at all, because He is perfect.
7. Sunrises
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
~ Lamentations 3:22-23
What an amazing thing! Every day, God is merciful and compassionate to us. It is evident by the fact that He gives us life, though we don't deserve it. Every sunrise is a remarkable gift of mercy.
His greatest gift of mercy, by far though, was the act of great compassion and love that He demonstrated by bleeding on the cross and carrying all the weight of our sin and the wrath of God on Himself, so that we can have an everlasting relationship with Him.
8. Sunsets
From the rising of the sun to its going down The Lord’s name is to be praised.
~ Psalm 113:3
For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; In every place incense shall be offered to My name, And a pure offering; For My name shall be great among the nations,” Says the Lord of hosts.
~ Malachi 1:11
God is worthy of praise. The sooner we learn this and embrace it with all of our heart the better, because He WILL be glorified. HALLELUJAH!
And why is He worthy of praise?
Because He IS, always has been, and always will be, and not only that but in that everlasting existence, He is and has always been holy, good, and beautiful, and always will be.
Also, over and over and over and over again He has showed undeserved love to the human race. The greatest gift of undeserved love that He gave us was the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, who, though He was holy and perfect and good, offered up His life in our place and satisfied the just wrath of God.
But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God ~ Hebrews 10:12
9. Trees
...Christ... in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. ~ Colossians 2:2-3
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! ~ Romans 11:33
Christ is the key to understanding the wisdom book of Proverbs. Are you convicted you need more wisdom when you read the book of Proverbs? Seek to know Christ. That is where it is found.
But how does that relate to trees?
Well, Proverbs 3:18, in metaphorical form says,
She {speaking of wisdom} is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who retain her. ~ Proverbs 3:18
Christ is where wisdom is found, and wisdom is symbolized as a tree. That's how they connect.
And in His perfect wisdom, Christ laid down His life as a ransom for the many, that we may live eternally because of His sacrifice. This is, if not the greatest, at least one of the greatest examples of wisdom that we have ever been given in history, because this plan and purpose of God, which He purposed from eternity, reaps Him so much praise and glory and honor from those He saves, throughout all generations and in eternity to come.
To the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, ~ Ephesians 3:10-11
Also, Christ died on a tree.
Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. ~ 1 Peter 2:23
10. Clocks/Watches
In the stillness when the clock goes tick, tick, tick, I sometimes get lost in a timeline, thinking of the past and what has happened, and the future and what God will do.
And this is what has happened. This is the most important part of history. If you never learn anything more, learn this:
God, holy, righteous, and good, created the world and the law. Man broke the law and cursed the world and all that are in it. They condemned themselves to eternal death for their rebellion to the God who made them and loved them. But Jesus, God's Son, stepped down from His throne, became a man, and died as a sacrifice, a propitiation, an atonement for their sin, and bore the wrath of God. And after three days, He rose from the dead and now sits at the right hand of God in victory. One day, which we do not know, He will come and execute justice on all the nations, take those whom He has redeemed home to live with Him, and reign as King forever and ever. Until then, He has commanded us to repent (Matthew 4:17) and be faithful (Luke 12:43.)
Sometimes I wonder how many other people throughout all the generations have listened to the ticking of the clock and been motivated to DO SOMETHING for Christ? I know one thing's for sure - I want to be one of them.
11. Fountains
(This is inside Gaylord Opryland by the way)
And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. ~ Revelation 21:6
“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price.
~ Isaiah 55:1
For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light.
~ Psalm 36:9
Jesus has the water of life. He is the "fountain of living waters." (Jeremiah 17:13.) He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness. ~ Psalm 107:9. He is sufficient for us. And He wants a relationship with us! He says that the prayer of the upright is His delight. (Proverbs 15:8.)
Jesus' death brings us justification, and thereby entrance into His throne room with confidence. (Hebrews 4:16.) When He died, the veil dividing the holy of holies from the rest of the temple tore in two, symbolizing the communion we can freely have with Him now, because of Jesus' atonement. Amazing, amazing.
Is your soul longing? Is there a desire of your heart that hasn't been met? Are you hungry for something more than what you have? I encourage you to seek God. He is the only One who has the water of life, and can fill the hungry soul, and the only One who gives it freely to him who thirsts, and to those who have no money. His work on the cross is enough to overflow our hearts perpetually.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
~ Matthew 5:6 ~
12. Thorns
Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field.
~ Genesis 3:18
And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head...
~ Mark 15:17
Thorns tie both ends of the story together, man's sin and God's righteousness. Here's how:
When man rebelled against Him, God cursed the ground for their sake. For the first time, thorns grew on plants, making work a continual reminder that God is holy and will not just forgive sins. He requires a sacrifice to satisfy justice. (Hebrews 9:22.)
And that sacrifice came! He was bruised for our iniquities, and endured all of God's justice so that, if we receive His gift, we can live in communion with God forever. When he was dying for us, they placed a crown of thorns on His head. Did that symbolize that He was wearing, as it were, the sins of the world? I don't know, but in any case, He did wear thorns, and every time we see them, we can remember and thank Him for wearing them in our place.
13. Weddings/Marriages
Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.
~ Revelation 19:7
Marriage is always a clear, bold message, either of the amazing gospel of Jesus Christ, or of the couples' choice to rebel against His holy institution. (Malachi 2:11.)
God-glorifying weddings are always a JOY to behold, mostly because they turn the couple into a walking story, a proclamation of the greatest story ever told, everywhere they go, as the husband sacrificially loves and provides for his wife just as Christ laid down His life for His bride, and the wife responds with respect, submission, and thankfulness, just as the church, Christ's bride, is called to do in response to the gospel.
14. The Letter 'E'
After watching the documentary, "Patterns of Evidence: The Moses Controversy," I can't look at the letter 'E' the same way again. I'd have to watch the video again to remember all the details, but here's a simplified story of the evolution of the letter E.
This chart demonstrates how it used to be written (I believe in the early Hebrew language) and how it is written today. I don't remember exactly how or why, but each letter was connected to some important truth. The 'E' was a picture of a man with his arms raised in worship. It meant 'hallelujah,' which is, in Hebrew, 'praise the Lord,' or in English, 'boast about the most vehement.' If I'm remembering correctly, it was simplified over time to make writing more convenient, and now our letter E looks like this: E/e.
In case you're wondering how in the world it changed from that to that, if I'm remembering correctly, the middle line in the E that we use today is the head part, and the top and bottom lines of the E that we use today are his arms raised. All they did is take off his body and flip the symbol right side up (and change his head into a line, and take off his hands. :D)
The letter E reminds us that God is to be praised.
And why is He to be praised?
Because He created the earth, and man on it, and gave Himself to save us from our sin.
15. Compass
As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
~ Psalm 103:12
How did He do that? By works of ours? No! By His death!
16. Lambs
Whether it's my family and I (since our last name is Lamb :D) or actual animal lambs, lambs of any shape, size, color, or being, lol, remind us of our only hope, the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world, that Lamb being Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ alone.
...knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
~ 1 Peter 1:18-21
17. Vines
I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
~ John 15:1-3
Jesus is the only Man on earth who has ever been able to say that His work on earth was finished. Every carnal man who dies leaves work behind him, but Jesus accomplished the works of Him who sent Him.
Jesus is fruitful. He uses His Word and the Holy Spirit to regenerate hearts that bear fruit for His glory.
Are you one of His? Have you trusted in Him as the only way by which You can be saved? You can tell by the fruit in your life. (Matthew 7:16-23.) This is not to say that we can be saved by good works. The Bible teaches clearly against that doctrine. What it does say is that our works (symbolized as fruit in the Bible) reveal what type of root we are growing from. Those who have been planted by God will desire to glorify Him and will produce fruit that glorify Him, pointing out clearly to all that it was because of the root and the help of the Vinedresser that they bore such fruit. Those who have not been planted by God (Matthew 15:13) will desire to gratify their flesh and bring forth evil fruit that ends in the way of death. (James 1:15.)
18. Toast
And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. ~ John 6:35
Jesus taught his disciples to ask God daily for their bread. He resisted the devil with these words, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God." He says, "I am the bread of life." And finally, at the last supper, He used bread as a symbol of His body, the body that He was about to sacrifice for our sins.
Oh, how we need Him! We need His sacrifice to cover our sins. We need His words to fill our souls and help us resist temptation. We need His presence every day, every hour. Praise the Lord, He gave Himself to us, and He is always with us. He will never leave us. He is not far from each one of us. He will always, without fail, be our bread - the death that brought us life, the Word that was with God and is God, the Sword that defends us against the snares of the devil, and the daily spiritual food we need so much, that He gives to us in His Word and through prayer.
19. Light
(Enjoy all the photos. I am absolutely fascinated with LIGHT. I love it so so much. :D)
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” ~ John 8:12
“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. ~ John 3:18-20
Jesus came as the light of the world. His righteousness exposed sin. People hated Him because He was not like them. (Psalm 50:20-22.) He was pure and blameless, and holy, and they were defiled and guilty and full of their own desires. They hated Him so much, even though He had done nothing wrong, that they killed Him. They wanted to put out the light and get rid of what was making them see their sin as it was. What they didn't know was that by His death, the light would shine upon those who sit in the shadow of death, and that those who walked in darkness would see His light. (Isaiah 9:2.) In fact, that by His death, He would redeem a people who would be lights themselves, in the world. (Matthew 5:14-16.) They would, by their good deeds which He causes them to do, expose and call out the sin in and around them, shining light on what likes to cower in the shadows. Not only does that light expose sin's ugly face and show it for what it really is, rebellion against God, it points to the only Savior and Redeemer who is able to take away all darkness and shadows of death and iniquity, and transform lives into fruit-bearing, light-shining vessels that bring Him glory, now and forever.
20. Rocks
“No one is holy like the Lord, For there is none besides You, Nor is there any rock like our God.
~ 1 Samuel 2:2
To declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.
~ Psalm 92:15
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
~ Psalm 18:2.
Over and over again, God calls Himself the rock. There seems to be a correlation between His purity and His being a rock, because twice it mentions His holiness and righteousness in the same verse that it calls Him a rock. This is significant, because if we are going to cast ourselves upon something for salvation, it needs to be perfect, because God will not accept a sacrifice with blemish. He will only accept Jesus Christ, the perfect, sinless sacrifice. Praise the Lord that He is our salvation, and a faithful Rock that never shall be moved.
The Lord lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let the God of my salvation be exalted.
~ Psalm 18:46
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
~ Psalm 95:1
I would love to hear what you've been thinking while reading this article! Which number was most surprising to you? Why? What are some other gospel analogies you can think of? Have you been inspired to think about the articles lying around you differently? What are some unique things that your family has done, either in household decorations or stories or traditions, etc., that purposefully points you to Christ in your everyday life?
~ To The Utmost Glory Of God ~
Note: The rain, rainbow, raspberries, wool, 1st snow, sunrise, sunset, tree, clock, rose, wedding, typewriter, compass, animal lamb, vine, toast, 1st two light, and rock pictures were all taken from Wix's stock photo supply.