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Close your eyes and imagine with me.

Joshua sighed. Everything felt perfect today. As he walked through town on his way home, neighbors greeted him warmly and little children ran alongside him, for everyone loved Joshua. Striding through the door of his home, he was greeted by his father’s warm welcome.

Joshua and his father had always dreamed of having an ant farm. Finally, that dream had become a reality, and Joshua loved to take care of his ants. Much to Joshua’s dismay, however, shortly after he established his ant farm, the ants ate a poisonous plant and contracted a deadly disease. The ants frequently grumbled to themselves that it was all Joshua’s fault. “If only he had taken better care of us.”

Joshua tried to ease their pain as much as he could, but no matter what he tried, the ants always accused him of being overprotective and controlling. Neighbors whispered that Joshua should allow the poison to kill all of the ants so he could start over with a new set of ants. Some suggested that he might accelerate the process by wearing his hiking boots and stepping on all of the ants. But Joshua was horrified by these suggestions. He would never do such a thing.

On the contrary, before he even began this ant farm, Joshua had realized the possibility that the ants might contract this disease, so he and his father had a plan to counteract its spread.

It happened to be on this particular day, as Joshua watched his ants with compassion, that he decided it was time to put his plan into action. As he watched his beloved ants ambling around so sickly, Joshua called his father into the room. “It’s time,” Joshua said without turning around.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” his father replied. “You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
“It’s the only way to save them, Dad,” Joshua countered. “You and I both know that. I love them so much. I have to do this.” The two of them sat in silence as they watched the ants. Joshua reviewed the plan in his head.

First, he would have to become an ant. He shuddered at the thought. “Become an ant? Give up who I am forever?”

Second, he would have to live as the ants, but avoid contracting the disease. He knew it was possible. But the plant’s fruit looked like it would taste delicious, so the ants were unable to resist tasting only once. And a single taste was all that was necessary. Joshua had tried to warn the ants about the plant, but they hadn’t listened.

Next, he would offer the ants the cure. He knew they would make fun of him, mock him, laugh at him while he was one of them. He would never fit in. He would never receive the love he received in his current home. The glory, the admiration—all would cease to be.

Joshua’s father interrupted his thoughts.
“They will kill you,” he said. “Many of the ants will reject you and the cure you bring. They will label you as an intruder, and they will kill you.”
“Yes,” said Joshua, “I know, but some will accept me after I’m gone. If just one—” Joshua’s eyes filled with tears as he turned around and looked into his father’s eyes. “If just one of them believes me and accepts the cure I bring, this mission will be a success. I really want to do this.”



By now, you’ve realized that, in this story, Joshua represents Jesus, while the ants represent you and me and every other human being that has ever lived (or will live) on earth. As part of the Heavenly plan, Jesus left a world of indescribable glory and unfathomable perfection and love. He risked everything to save even just one person and prove His character of love. He left behind the life that He has designed for us. Can you imagine how much love Jesus has for each of us if He was willing to die the death that we deserve? And He died so that we can someday live the life that He left behind and receive the reward He deserves. Did you get that? Let me read it again. [Reader, please read this slowly to enhance comprehension.] He died so that we can someday live the life that He left behind and receive the reward He deserves.

Compared to His majesty and splendor, we are less than the size of Joshua’s ants. But He became one of us to save us and show His love for us. He loves us so much that He has even laid out a plan for us to follow so that we can become more like the wonderful Being He is. In John 10:10, Jesus tells us that unlike a thief that comes to steal, kill, and destroy, He came so that we could have life—and not just any life, but an abundant life.

Jesus wants us to live an abundant life as He did when He was here on this earth. He offers us a life of unshakeable joy—joy that permeates our being, regardless of the circumstances of today or the worries of tomorrow.


Date: 2015-02-16; view: 1010


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Introduction | He offers us identity in being His beloved, accepted child—but not just any child, the child that He gave His life for.
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