Christ Is the Remedy
Today I am burdened by the pain and hurt I see on display all around me. Scrolling through my news feed, I see stories about people protesting, crying out against the pain and hurt they have experienced. I read articles about those who are reeling at the loss of a loved one or the loss of a business. There are stories about those who fear being infected by a deadly virus or who are grieving at a loss suffered because of it. I see headlines about those who feel so alone that they chose to end their own lives to escape it. My news feed is filled with the faces of people who are hurting, who are in pain, and who long for relief.
The pain, featured so prominently on my the screen of my iphone, is the result of a single, pervasive disease that affects everyone and spares no one. This disease is that of sin. Ever since Adam and Eve took that fateful bite of fruit, the world has been writhing in pain (Rom. 8:22). Sin has corrupted the earth and its inhabitants in ways we cannot fully understand, resulting in pain and heartache. Furthermore, the sins of every person are more far reaching than we can possibly imagine.
At its core, sin is the belief that each individual is responsible for creating his own happiness and that, through his own actions, he can bring about the peace, joy, love, hope, and purpose that he so desperately desires. This false belief leads us to put ourselves and our own needs above everyone else. This belief even leads us to ignore what God has told us in His word, because we think we know better than the Creator of the universe. However, the pursuit of self-fulfillment has a single, consistent destination, pain and suffering.
The only remedy for sin is the blood of Christ. It is only in His grace, love, and mercy that we encounter the healing, love, purpose, hope, and joy for which we long. It is only when we abandon our pursuit of self-fulfillment and pursue Jesus that we find what we have been searching for (Luke 9:24).
As Christians, we have been called to be lights in the midst of the darkness, pointing all people towards Christ (Matt. 5:14). Being a light to others requires us to do two things: (1) Salt our actions and (2) Pray constantly. Matthew 5:13 expresses that Christians are the salt of the earth. Food that has been properly salted tastes good and leaves a good taste in a person's mouth. If we are to represent Christ to those who are hurting, we must strive to ensure that our actions, words, and attitudes leave a good taste in people's mouths. We must communicate love, care, and concern if we want those who are hurting to hear the healing words of Jesus. If your actions, words, or attitudes are not representative of the love, grace, mercy, and care of Christ, you need to ask God to mold you more into the image of His Son.
Overcoming sin and the pursuit of self-fulfillment is an impossible task for mankind to achieve on his own. It is only through the power of God that these formidable opponents can be overcome (Matt. 19:26). Prayer is the most powerful tool that Christians posses. Prayer is a direct line to the ear of the most powerful being in the universe who is able to create change in people's lives. If we are to represent Christ to the world, we must be in constant prayer that God will mold us into a more accurate representation of His Son. Furthermore, we must be in constant prayer for those who are reeling from the effects of sin but do not yet know Him. We must pray that God will open their hearts to His word and that they will find healing and hope in Him.
As Christians, we hold the remedy to the pain, suffering, and fear that permeates society. It is essential that we not hoard the Gospel message and keep it for ourselves. Instead we must be lights shinning in the darkness who prayerfully use their actions, attitudes, and words to point all who are hurting towards the only One who can heal their wounds, Jesus.
The pain, featured so prominently on my the screen of my iphone, is the result of a single, pervasive disease that affects everyone and spares no one. This disease is that of sin. Ever since Adam and Eve took that fateful bite of fruit, the world has been writhing in pain (Rom. 8:22). Sin has corrupted the earth and its inhabitants in ways we cannot fully understand, resulting in pain and heartache. Furthermore, the sins of every person are more far reaching than we can possibly imagine.
At its core, sin is the belief that each individual is responsible for creating his own happiness and that, through his own actions, he can bring about the peace, joy, love, hope, and purpose that he so desperately desires. This false belief leads us to put ourselves and our own needs above everyone else. This belief even leads us to ignore what God has told us in His word, because we think we know better than the Creator of the universe. However, the pursuit of self-fulfillment has a single, consistent destination, pain and suffering.
The only remedy for sin is the blood of Christ. It is only in His grace, love, and mercy that we encounter the healing, love, purpose, hope, and joy for which we long. It is only when we abandon our pursuit of self-fulfillment and pursue Jesus that we find what we have been searching for (Luke 9:24).
As Christians, we have been called to be lights in the midst of the darkness, pointing all people towards Christ (Matt. 5:14). Being a light to others requires us to do two things: (1) Salt our actions and (2) Pray constantly. Matthew 5:13 expresses that Christians are the salt of the earth. Food that has been properly salted tastes good and leaves a good taste in a person's mouth. If we are to represent Christ to those who are hurting, we must strive to ensure that our actions, words, and attitudes leave a good taste in people's mouths. We must communicate love, care, and concern if we want those who are hurting to hear the healing words of Jesus. If your actions, words, or attitudes are not representative of the love, grace, mercy, and care of Christ, you need to ask God to mold you more into the image of His Son.
Overcoming sin and the pursuit of self-fulfillment is an impossible task for mankind to achieve on his own. It is only through the power of God that these formidable opponents can be overcome (Matt. 19:26). Prayer is the most powerful tool that Christians posses. Prayer is a direct line to the ear of the most powerful being in the universe who is able to create change in people's lives. If we are to represent Christ to the world, we must be in constant prayer that God will mold us into a more accurate representation of His Son. Furthermore, we must be in constant prayer for those who are reeling from the effects of sin but do not yet know Him. We must pray that God will open their hearts to His word and that they will find healing and hope in Him.
As Christians, we hold the remedy to the pain, suffering, and fear that permeates society. It is essential that we not hoard the Gospel message and keep it for ourselves. Instead we must be lights shinning in the darkness who prayerfully use their actions, attitudes, and words to point all who are hurting towards the only One who can heal their wounds, Jesus.
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