Can I be perfectly honest with you? I don't like to admit I am wrong. Having to take the walk of shame and getting the courage to admit, "I messed up; please forgive me," is not something I look forward to doing more like dread it. Yet, as uncomfortable as it is, I will swallow my pride and ask for forgiveness. However, sometimes I hold onto that pride just as stubbornly as the next person. I am a work in progress. Thank God, He never gives up on me.
We all were born with the natural thought process of right vs. wrong. Like an angel sitting on your right shoulder, the devil sitting on your left shoulder, both whispering in your ears, "do this" or "don't do that." God designed us this way. For non-believers, it is called a conscience; for believers, it's called the Holy Spirit (see John 16:7-11).
We all typically know when we mess up, and we also should know that there are consequences to our actions. Good or bad. Some laws hold us accountable for our actions. Society is great at keeping us accountable and judging us based on what we do (there is some sarcasm in that statement). We know we shouldn't lie, steal, murder, or cheat. We all agree those are "wrong things." But why are they wrong? Where do we get this "feeling" from? How do we even know they are wrong, where did right and wrong come from originally?
Let me ask you a question if the 10 Commandments did not exist, how would we know these things are wrong? Ruminate on that question, and think deeply about it. But the answer to us believers is this: God embedded right and wrong in our hearts when He created us.
'They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight. When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it. And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life. ' Romans 2:12-16
Did you know that we all are naturally born with a disease?
The Good News is that we were also born with the same access to a fantastic Physician who can cure and save us from this disease. He is also an excellent defense lawyer; you could say He double majored 😉.
But how do we get to Him? How do we find Him? There is a roadmap written for us that leads us on the path to this Physician.
Let's get straight to it.
The disease: sin
The Physician/Lawyer/Cure: Jesus
We are all born with this natural desire to do wrong, aka sin; we can't help it. We want to do what is right, but we fall short daily. That is why we need a physician; we need a cure, we need Jesus. Because if we don't have Jesus, we have no hope. If we don't have a cure for our sins, our consequence is death. But, the hope is that if we have Jesus in our lives, we will live for eternity, finally free from sin and sin-free, and we will be cured.
Death couldn't hold Jesus down, and death can't hold us down when we are in Christ.
Jesus is not only our Physician but also our lawyer on judgment day. The day we pass and meet our judge (God) face to face. When it is time for the verdict to be released, Jesus will stand before the judge and say, "This one is NOT guilty; she is innocent. I took the punishment for her; let her go." And we don't deserve the verdict of innocent, but because of Jesus, we get it. That is the power of the Good News and what Jesus did for us on the cross.
So let's take a look at that Roadmap.
The Problem: We are all sinners by nature and by choice
'You are so proud of knowing the law, but you dishonor God by breaking it.' Romans 2:23
'As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one' Romans 3:10
'When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. ' Romans 5:12
The Consequence: Death
'For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.' Romans 6:23
The Solution: Jesus
'But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.' Romans 5:8
Our Response: We must repent from our sins and surrender
'If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.' Romans 10:9-10
Assurance: His Word
'For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' Romans 10:13
Results: Salvation & eternal life with Jesus, our Savior.
'Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.' Romans 5:1
'So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. ' Romans 8:1
'And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.' Romans 8:38-39
This is the roadmap to the cure of our disease, but what people also don't realize is that this is also an invitation to die to ourselves, to take up our cross daily, and to follow Jesus.
'Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. ' Luke 9:23-24
Are you ready for a cure?
Today could be the first day of the rest of your life.
You don't have to clean up your life for salvation; you only need a humble heart to admit you are a sinner and to repent of your sin. Then chase after Jesus as your life depends on it because it does. Once you repent and surrender, He will clean up your life, but you have to be willing to let Him come into your life and do this. It's not just 'poof' automatic. It takes work, prayer, study, and surrender to His will.
But be prepared; this is not an easy path, yet it is worth it.
Today is the day that you can step out of the darkness and onto the path of light and life.
Today is the day that you could admit you are a sinner. Don't say you aren't; we all fall short of God's glorious standard, and if you think you don't sin, well read 1 John 1:10 and take it up with God.
'For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. ' Romans 3:23
Are you ready to be purified and cured of your disease?
Are you ready to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior?
Have you previously accepted Christ, but are you ready to surrender your life?
Pray with me.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I admit that I am a sinner in need of a Savior. I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins and was resurrected 3 day's later. Lord, please forgive me of my sins. I thank you for your sacrifice on the cross, for taking my guilty plea for your innocence. Lord, I commit my life to you. Lord, take my hand and guide me in this life, guide me on the path to righteousness. Show me your ways and help me to lay down my old ways.
In your Holy and Precious name I pray, Amen.
If you accepted Christ today, or if you are re-surrendering, CONGRATULATIONS!! Welcome to the family, my Sister in Christ. Let me know so I can pray for you! Head over to my prayer page and send me a message/prayer request!
And please know this:
'I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.' Luke 15:7
If you gave your life to Christ today or re-surrendered, there is rejoicing in Heaven over you right now.
'I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. ' Ephesians 3:16-19
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