April 26, 2004

THE HEAVENLY VISITOR

"Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people" (Luke 1:68, NKJV).

We have all experienced the sheer delight of welcoming to our home a long-expected visitor and friend. To the aged Zacharias, filled with the Holy Spirit, it was a moment of excitement to learn that God was about to visit His people with redemption. Deeply moved by Mary's magnificat, Zacharias broke forth in a beatitude of praise to God for condescending to visit His people in person.

Frequent reference is made in Scripture to God visiting His people. He visited Sarah to assure her of the fulfillment of His covenant promise to Abraham (see Genesis 21:1). Centuries later, He visited His people in Egypt (see Exodus 3:11-17). David once prayed that God would visit him with salvation (see Psalm 106:4).

The most momentous visit of all was the arrival of God's Son to our planet. It was the greatest event in all human history. In the "fullness of the time" (Galatians 4:4), Christ, the celestial visitor came just as He had promised. The divine visitor did not come merely to make a social call on the human race. He came on serious business. He came "to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10).

On His arrival, the celestial visitor brought a good-news package from heaven wrapped up in love. It was a package filled with the good news of free grace, peace with God, redemption, freedom from sin's bondage, the certainty of eternal life, and much more. Our wonderful visitor came as one of us in order to redeem us. Evidently, our heavenly visitor enjoys visiting His people. "For ages He had visited His people with manifestations of the most condescending kindness and unexampled love."--Counsels on Health, p. 455.

My Prayer Today: Lord, visit me again today with Your salvation. Amen.