From the start; Christ
Christ’s authenticity is without question, although there are those skeptics who will even question their birth. And because Christ has a track record that proves who he is and what is said about him, it is worth the effort to follow him. For example, in the creation moments of man, he was there. In Genesis, the scriptures say that God invited those there to create man after his image (Gen 1:26). His involvement with man has never ceased. Christ in the image of an angel came and intermingled with man, for example, as the angel of the Lord he appeared unto Joshua when the mana ceased (Jha 5:14-15). The demand for Joshua to remove his sandals because the ground he was on was holy, identifies him as God. His active involvement with man did not stop at creation, creation was just the beginning. John says that everything made included Christ and without him, nothing happened. The experiences people had with him were like no other, it was something new.
John 1:1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
Each time Christ becomes involved in anyone’s life or affair a new beginning occurs. God’s active involvement with us includes Christ. God does not work with second chances but with new beginnings. Just like the potter and his vessel when he notices a small pebble or hard surface, he breaks it and begins new, and so does God with us. God told Jeremiah to go down to the potter’s house he was going to give him a message (Jer18:4). Paul tells the church of Corinthians that if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation (2 Cor 5:17). That we must walk in newness of life; having a new beginning, just as Christ is new (Ro6:4). When a new beginning comes it is a fresh start erasing the old with a clean slate. Ezekiel tells us that God, for a clean slate will give a new heart. God will take the stony heart away (Eze11:19). A stony heart refers to something old that has had a history and has become dry. Life in Christ is always new. When someone is looking for new beginnings, they are found in Christ because as John says “In him was life”. New beginnings attract us, they are a light that makes us want them. John says that Christ’s life is the light of man.
Genesis 1:26
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Joshua 5:14-15
14 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my Lord unto his servant? 15 And the captain of the Lord‘s host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.
Jeremiah 18:4
4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Romans 6:4
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Ezekiel 11:19
19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: