"Where Is The Lamb?"

For three days, Abraham and Isaac had been traveling to the place of sacrifice (Genesis 22:1-4). When they arrived at the place that God had designated, Isaac sensed that something was very wrong. The external trappings of the wood and fire were close at hand, but the essential element of the sacrifice (the lamb) was missing. In answer to Isaac's puzzled question, "Where is the lamb?" Abraham calmly replied: "God will provide for Himself a lamb" (Genesis 22:7-8).

The substitute lamb that God provided to take Isaac's place, was a powerful symbol of the Lamb that God would later provide as a substitute for the whole human race, the One who John recognized and declared, "Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29; cf. 1 Peter 1:18-19). As the Lamb of God, Jesus is the essential element in Christianity (1 Corinthians 15:12-20).

The question is, "Where is the Lamb" in our world today?"

"Where is the Lamb" in modern day religion? — We have witnessed the rise of a Christ-less "Christianity." Many churches are now more interested in "political correctness" than in a crucified Savior. Philosophy, psychology, and sociology are being proclaimed from pulpits from which the Lamb has been banished. While providing and maintaining the external trappings, many churches have forgotten all about the essential ingredient (cf. Colossians 2:8;18-23). 

"Where is the Lamb" in modern day culture? — Throughout history, great artistic and literary masterpieces measure the amazing impact which Jesus has had on culture and civilization. Think about how Christ must have captured the creative imagination of men like Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Bach, Handel, Mozart, Shakespeare, Milton, Tolstoy, and Tennyson.

By way of comparison, Christ has all but disappeared from the shallow, narcissistic music, art, and literature of postmodernism. Consequently, our fast-paced culture has degenerated into a self-absorbed and infantile mirror of the immorality, selfishness, and despair of our times (cf. Romans 1:21-32; 2 Timothy 3:13).

"Where is the Lamb" in modern day life? — Christ has been banished from the court house and the school room. He has been excluded from the conference rooms of big business and ignored in the halls of government. In casual conversation, His name rarely appears, except as a precursor to blasphemous words. He is banished from the sports arena and the movie theater. He must be content with an occasional mention of the times of service to Him in the weekly religious section of the newspaper.

"Where is the Lamb" in the lives of His followers? — The most shocking void of all, is the absence of the Lamb from the lives of those who claim to  be His disciples. How tragic that the lives of far too many Christians do not really reflect the image of Christ! (Gal. 2:20). Can it be that the world does not see the Lamb in us because He is not there? (Colossians 3:1).

Dear reader, our world is lost in a moral wilderness and crying out, "Where is the Lamb?" As followers of Christ, may we have the courage and conviction to confidently direct them to "The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29; cf. Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:37-38).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets