Have you ever noticed the lack of exclamation points in the Bible? I have.  If the Bible had been written Lisa’s way, there would be exclamation points ev.ry.where!

Seriously, this is exciting stuff!  Check out Genesis: “In the beginning God created … And it was good.” God created everything … no exclamation point on any of the first six days of creation.  Fast forward through “the fall,” through the flood, through Israel’s wandering and exile and into the pages of the gospels and God’s story continues to lack exclamation points.

I wonder why.  

And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. ~ Matthew 27:51 [ESV]

Next to the creation of the world, the next-greatest moment in God’s story (in my opinion) is when … at the moment Jesus died, the curtain in the temple was torn in two.  From TOP to BOTTOM!

In that moment, GOD removed the barrier between Him and us.  

Remember the flaming sword and the cherubim of Genesis 3:24 guarding the way to the tree of life? God placed the cherubim there. Check this out: 

In that moment when Christ died on the cross, the tree of death became the tree of LIFE. 

In that moment, GOD tore the curtain from top to bottom. No man could do this! GOD did on that day what only GOD could do. The curtain was a barrier, like the cherubim with the flaming sword. GOD removed the barrier between Him and us.

In that moment, He restored our relationship.

In that moment, God’s plan … a plan He had before the creation of all things … was complete. He knew we would be tempted. He knew we would fall for the deception. He knew we would ruin the perfect relationship we had with Him. Before He even began the work of creation, He already planned to restore us to Him.

And He knew it would be painful. 

But He did it anyway.

Because He loves us.

Amazing.