I have a past ya'll that's not too pretty. The devil likes to remind me of it. I made some bad decisions and was living a self serving destructive life. The devil questions me, "what right do you have to say anything?" And I agree, I have no right according to my past.
But, in 1984 I had an encounter with Jesus. He made me an offer I could not refuse. He said He would take all of my past mistakes and give me His righteousness. In fact, He had already paid the punishment for my sins. I just had to say yes. So I did. I had come to the end of my way. That yes to Jesus changed the trajectory of my life forever. From death to life. No, I have nothing about me to share but everything about Him to share.
Because since then, I've still made mistakes and He still forgives and that kind of love will change you.
Whatever station in life you find yourself, there are those in your circle of influence who are in need of hope. They may be standing at a crossroads like I was and need someone to point them in the right direction. I am forever thankful for the ones who did that for me. They could not change my heart, but they pointed to the One who could.
I know it was God himself who called me but He most definitely uses people, regular people. People who will say yes to Him.
They pointed me to Jesus. He said, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. And I remember the day I realized, he really is. The great exchange of our unworthiness to His righteousness must take place. If you are standing on your own accomplishments and good deeds, you are going to come up short. In life now, and when your life ends and you meet Him face to face. But the truly good news is, He gives new life to broken people. People who are hungry for Him. The hardest thing we will ever do is believe, truly believe Him and say yes. That means letting go of our way and saying yes to Him.
For the accomplished and self made individual this may be harder, for they feel no need of Him. Jesus said its hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of God but He also said nothing is impossible. Its just that we can't depend on the things of this world in the end to save us. Good deeds are good but they will not be good enough. We will come up short in the end if we are leaning on our own merits. Our confidence must rest on Jesus. His Word is Truth and no book compares. Read it. Believe it. Believe Him and your Life will be changed forever.
In the past three months, people that I know and love have gone on, passed from this life and I am reminded how short this life is. That is why, if we have this hope, we must encourage each other and all the more as we see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:25
There are days I need reminders, do overs, and a word of encouragement to keep focused. So as I write, it comes to me first because I need it. Then I pass it on. Our confidence and hope rests in Christ Alone.
I am forever thankful for the ones who shared Christ with me, when I needed Him most, and
I am thankful for this...
To Him Who is able to keep you from falling, to present you before His glorious Presence, without fault and with great joy! Jude 1:24 Thank you Jesus!
Our loving God has made a Way.