In the Book of Acts, Philip the Evangelist is led to a very prominent and prosperous Ethiopian eunuch. When Philip comes up to this eunuch’s chariot, he hears him reading a scroll of the Book of Isaiah, “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.” (Acts 8:26-39)
The prophet Isaiah wrote over seven hundred years before the death of Christ. With amazing accuracy, this passage clearly foresaw the sufferings of Jesus the Christ. Philip, beginning with that very passage in Isaiah, shared with the eunuch the message of salvation in Jesus Christ.
There is a beauty in how the Bible comes together. Sixty-six works of literature written by various authors with varying personalities over the course of many hundreds of years come together in a magnificent cohesive redemptive-history. There is really no other cannon of literature like it.
The Apostle Peter wanted Christians to appreciate their position in this redemptive history (1 Peter 1:10-12). They had what the prophets diligently searched for. They possessed what angels long to look into.
It is so easy for Christians to take for granted their salvation in Christ. Salvation is a gift that cost the receiver not a penny nor drop of sweat. Nevertheless, it cost God everything. The Father sent the Son. The Son freely went. He purchased our salvation with his precious blood.
If you know the joy of this salvation, take it not for granted. Rejoice and be glad that you have this precious gift. If you do not know this joy, consider receiving that which cannot be earned.
A gift, if it is truly a gift, cannot be merited. You cannot be good enough nor can you get it by thinking you are just generally trying to be good. Jesus once compared this gift to a woman who lost a very valuable silver coin. She turned the lights on. She turned the house upside down to find it. When she finally found it, she called her neighbors over and had a party to rejoice that it was found. (Luke 15:8-10) Receive the gift prophets search for and angels long to look into. Receive the joy of salvation.