Take The Plunge, Friend! :-)

Flicking through the news headlines on a smart phone, or scrolling through my Twitter feed, I come across a world that has access to an unprecedented level of information like never before. We have an ability to write a tweet, a Facebook status or a blog post and it can reach people from all parts of the world. As a Christian, I can tell someone about the good news of Jesus Christ by the click of a button. However, I find myself competing with a multitude of different sources of information – information overload is rife on the internet. The good news of Jesus is drowned out by a world that is trying to block out any notion of God in exchange for a lie.

If anything, I can spend all of 60 seconds on the web and become entangled in a forest of deception, distraction and despair. 

I will use my ‘bit’ of the internet to minister to the lost, the hurting and the hopeless to counteract the messages of dark times, and shine a light for Jesus here. Friends, let me share with you a hope so sure that you do not need to walk in fear of the world.

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The Cost of the Cross

The promise of eternal life and a relationship with God came at a cost. The cost of the cross. The death of Jesus Christ who has saved us all from our sins by taking them upon Himself. My salvation was secured by the cost of the cross. It cost the Son of God His life. He could have saved Himself. He was not powerless, despite the jeers and remarks of those that watched his body suffering immense pain, hanging in agony through the crucifixion. But he hung there because He loved us. You. Me. He loved us all so much that it cost Him his life. He died for every single person.

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The Hope of the Cross

He brought hope to a darkened world, rooted in sin and writhing in evil and suffering. My Spirit wants to pour out love and hope to all people who are hurting and without hope. I can only offer what I have received from God myself. And I have received love and hope beyond all understanding throughout my life. There is hope in the cross. There is an unfailing love that can only be given to others if we have received it ourselves. Have you received God’s Son as your Saviour? His death and resurrection is not something to be kept hidden. We cannot ignore it. We cannot make light of it. The gospel fails and Christianity fails if God’s Son is taken out of the equation. Where else do you pace your hope? What hope is there in this temporary life?

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

If there is any greater need to know a Saviour personally – it is now. I have heard people describe believing in God like a crutch we need to support us through life. People dismiss a need for God because they don’t think they need saving. They don’t want to admit to their weaknesses or failings. Many say that life without God is simpler – even Stephen Fry has said that recently. However, I believe it takes more faith to not believe that there is a God, than having faith in the One who conquered death and provided an eternal life with God. Our world needs saving – thank God there is a Saviour and a hope!

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Some misconceptions of Christianity…

Christianity is not about being angelically good and following rules. Some Christians even get that bit wrong and become very legalistic about things! Christianity, at its heart, is about being a sinner who is so loved and so forgiven because of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice for each of us. When we realise this truly beautiful truth, we do not feel forced, nor obligated to follow a set of legalistic rules, but we desire to follow a God who loves us and is the only true source of comfort and hope through life.

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A brief look at justice & morality

The Bible is full of storms of life, sinful people and desperate times. However, it is filled with God’s endless mercy, compassion and love for all people. It is filled with a God who seeks justice. I sometimes challenge God with the same words that Abraham used to remind God of His character:

“Far be it from You to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?” Genesis 18:25

Abraham trusted that God was a just God; He acknowledged that He was the Judge of the whole earth. Abraham was honest before God too, by saying ‘Far be it from you!’ to slay the righteous with the wicked. The Lord despises evil and seeks justice. We all have a sense of right and wrong – a moral code if you will. Where does that sense of morality come from? Perhaps it is an arrow that points to something higher – Someone Greater – the Creator who made us in His image. It is fitting that we should have that sense of right and wrong, because our God does! C.S Lewis said in ‘Mere Christianity’:

‘My argument against God was that the universe seemed so cruel and unjust. But how had I got this idea of just and unjust? A man does not call a line crooked unless he has some idea of a straight line. What was I comparing this universe with when I called it unjust?’

In an unjust, immoral world, there is comfort knowing that there is a Judge and there is justice. It may not look like it when we switch on the news. Everything looks like it is outside of God’s control and it appears haphazard and somewhat frightening. However, let’s remind ourselves of scripture at this point:

And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:13

Because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man [Jesus] whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him [Jesus] from the dead.” Acts 17:31

The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. John 5:22-24

Although it may seem that wickedness and evil prevail, nothing is hidden from God and those who commit these acts will one day have to give an account before God. We will all have to give an account for our life, but through Jesus we have full assurance because of his resurrection – Jesus is the righteous judge and has made a way for all of us to pass from death to eternal life when we believe in Him and His Father who sent Him. It is such an act of grace that He took our place and paid the due penalty for our sins.

Take heart friends. You are loved. There is hope. There is justice. There is freedom and eternal life in Christ Jesus. Take a step of faith. Take the plunge to new life. You will have all you ever need.

Blessings in Christ,

Ruth (sinner saved by grace.)

Linking up with Kelly Balarie and friends at Purposeful Faith today 🙂 #RaRaLinkup