One Life Affects Many

History shows us that its whole course can be changed by one life. We see this operating in this passage in two senses. Firstly Abraham is ‘one life' which has a remarkable effect upon the world. By his faith and obedience, he is destined to have many descendants who will, at their best, be a blessing to the nations. They will receive, for example, the Ten Commandments and of course be the people from whom the Lord Jesus Christ is descended. Abraham's faith is of such a remarkable nature that he is called the father of us all (Romans 4:11,16). We need to ask ourselves whether our ‘one life' affects many like Abraham's did.

Secondly there is the one life of the Lord Jesus Christ who is prefigured in the sacrifice that Abraham is ready to make. Through Him was destined to come the abolition of death; the end of the devil's power; and the destruction of sin's penalty and power. Now through His ‘one life', we have fellowship with God; we have adoption into God's family; and we have a solid hope of heaven.