Tensions are high. Times are tough. There is no denying either of these statements. Each day our lives are infiltrated with threats, cautions, warnings, predictions, and arguments.
People want to know when the coronavirus will go away. When will a vaccine be ready? What will happen to the economy? Everyone wants to know how all this ends.
I have to make a confession. I do not feel qualified to make predictions; not any that have any validity anyway.
I am not a meteorologist, so I will not pretend to know what the weather will do. I am not an economist, so I will not pretend to know how to jump-start the economy. I am not an epidemiologist, so I will not pretend to understand how a virus will act. I am a preacher, and so I will boldly tell you what I do know: Jesus lives and He is the Savior of all who trust in Him by faith. With that one piece of knowledge, I rest just fine.
That's right. I find my hope and peace in the saving grace of the gospel. I also find my purpose in the gospel. I find my rest in what I do know and feel comfortable leaving what I don't know and can't understand to the Lord. After all, the Bible has told us that the secret things belong to the Lord, and the things revealed are for us (Deuteronomy 29:29).
So I ask you: Do you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior? You cannot rest in a Savior that you do not know. But the good news is that you can know Him, and when you do, you will experience true peace.
How can you know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior?
The Bible teaches that we are all sinners. We have all done things we should not, and we have failed to do things we should. While this is true for all of us, the commonality of the condition does not make it any less deadly. Our sin is a problem for which there is only one cure. What is the remedy?
The cure is the grace of Jesus. The Bible teaches that we are sinners, but also that God has made a way for sinners to be forgiven. Jesus Christ, the perfect and sinless Son of God, came to earth and lived the life we could not. His sinless life qualified Him to be our substitute. In grace, Jesus died on a cross, and in so doing, took our sin upon Himself.
In the cross-work of Jesus, a great exchange takes place. Our sin is laid upon Christ. God's wrath is poured out upon Jesus. And the good news is, by God's grace, the righteousness of Jesus Christ is given to us.
This is the hope of the gospel. The Bible promises these things are true. There could be nothing more important to understand. Read the words of Scripture for yourself.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23
"...but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
"...if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation." Romans 10:9-10
Predictions about the weather, economy, and public health matter, and they do have consequences. Never forget, though, all of those things have implications for this life only. What you do with Jesus determines your eternity. Big difference!
And the best part? No predictions are needed with the gospel. The grace of Jesus is real, and it is available. You can afford to be wrong about many things, but you cannot afford to be wrong about the gospel. It is clear, it is life-changing, and it can be the one thing that gives your life meaning.
If you know Jesus as your Savior, take a minute to pray and thank the Lord for your salvation. If you are not a Christian, pray to the Lord as you confess your sin and ask Him to make you a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) and wash you whiter than snow.
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"Anchored in Hope" is a book Michael has written that contains forty daily devotionals. Whether you are a new Christian or a seasoned believer, these daily readings will strengthen your faith as they point you to Christ. To order your copy, click here.
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