And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
They’re after me. And after all, though I had better intentions, I’m guilty. I have trespassed the Law. I am, therefore, a sinner, deserving of punishment. Where is my hope?
Do you see yourself as a fellow sinner who would like to flee this world?
You know, it seems like in this 21st century that we can no longer do the right thing.
I try. Really, I do. Yet someone or some situation seems to always come along and mess me up. My well-intentioned plans are always laid waste. I owe someone something I cannot repay. I have become a debtor with no redeemer.
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In the 7th century Before Christ, the Prophet Isaiah speaks of the sins of Jews, God’s chosen people. Isaiah warns of the fall of Israel (740 B.C.) and of Jerusalem (607 B.C.), convicting by words even followers of the LORD in this 21st century A.D. Isaiah even describes how I sometimes feel.
4 From of old no one has heard
or perceived by the ear,
no eye has seen a God besides you,
who acts for those who wait for him.
… Behold, you were angry, and we sinned;
in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved?
6 We have all become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.
We all fade like a leaf,
and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
King David of a United Kingdom of Israel [Israel/Samaria & Judah] was guilty and deserved punishment from God for his sins. King David was not only an adulterer, but also a murderer. [2 Samuel 14]
David pleaded to the LORD to show him mercy. [Psalm 38]
O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your wrath,
Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure!
3 There is no soundness in my flesh
Because of Your anger,
Nor any health in my bones
Because of my sin.
4 For my iniquities have gone over my head;
Like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.
Who will help us in our guilt?
Most people who believe in God try do more good things than acts of evil. While Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and others work to earn their salvation after death (as do many who are not certain about God {just in case}, only Christian followers of Jesus Christ have true hope of eternal life because of the forgiveness of our sins.
You show steadfast love to thousands, but you repay the guilt of fathers to their children after them, O great and mighty God, whose name is the LORD of hosts, great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the children of man, rewarding each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds. – Jeremiah 32:18-19
What is my hope before Almighty God (since I am guilty)?
Joel 2:32 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved
Only Christian followers of Jesus Christ have true hope of eternal life because of the forgiveness of our sins.
Acts 2:22b-24
Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.
Repent!
“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
Guilty? Yes… many times over… MANY sins. I am a sinner! (just like you.)
Forgiven? Yes… in Christ Jesus who was sacrificed on the Cross for my sins and the sins of the world.
Hope? Definitely, for He was and IS and will be; and Christ Jesus has promised eternal life to all who follow after Him.
Are you a Christ-follower with hope or a guilty soul waiting for punishment and death?
To be continued…
NEXT: Released from my prison
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