A Matter of Perspective

What does it take to really communicate Jesus Christ to the world around me? What do people see flowing from my life? Hopelessness, selfishness, despondency or do they see joy, hope, kindness, and love?

Belief in God and Jesus Christ is not a formula to success, although God guides those who acknowlege Him (Prov. 3:5-6). We are born in sin, which is anything that keeps us from being holy or perfect before a Sovereign God. (Romans 3:23-24) Yet, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, as the atonement for my sin, the sins of the entire world. (John 3:16-17) His Spirit calls each of us, called me, to Himself to have a relationship with Him, and as I dwell in Him, and allow His Spirit to work in my heart, I change. 2 Cor. 5:17-6:2 reads,

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled is to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. ANd He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's amassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made Him (Jesus Christ) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. For He says, 'In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.' I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation."

You might be reading this thinking, "I'm a good person; who needs God?" What do you mean by "good?" Compared to some people, I am a "good" person, too. But do you know something? I still sin: I do not always tell the whole truth, I struggle with honoring my parents and others from time to time, I do not always follow through like I say I will, and all these things are sin. No one is good or sinless except God. No matter how "good" I think my actions or how pure my motives or intentions are, they fall short of the glory of God.

But God has not left the us desolate. In Christ, we have the forgiveness of sins if we confess them and acknowledge our need for His atonement. "Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes....That if you confess with yout mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, 'Anyone who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.'" Romans 10:4, 9, 10

I do not know who will read this, but no matter where you live or your past experiences, I hope that you might hear hope.

"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you..." Eph. 1:18