by David Brenneman
"and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man." John 2:25.
"For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God." 1 Corinthians 2:10-11.
"In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." Romans 8:26-27.
"O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, O Lord, You know it all. You have enclosed me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me. If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night,” Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You. For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!" Psalms 139:1-17.
So many people have chosen to believe that "if God only knew about my past, He wouldn't want anything to do with me!".
Did you not read everything through a moment ago? My Dear Reader there's nothing in your life that Jesus hasn't been intimately aware of. Every thought, every single individual intention. He knows and yet...and yet...in spite of everything...He still wants to have an intimate relationship with you. He still wants to save you.
Jesus wants to be the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life. It doesn't matter what your eyes see or your heart and mind feel. Salvation is in Christ Jesus alone. He did everything necessary to make a way where there was no way in order to save the likes of everyone.
There's no door of anyone's heart ever created that Jesus won't come knocking at, asking to be let in.
It's Jesus's job to clean up people. It's what He does after we say yes to His free gift of salvation. It's not based on whatever works we do or try to do. When Jesus said "It is FINISHED!" on the cross He meant it. Everything required by God to save you was accomplished and completely acceptable to God. Done and Done.
Quite often Jesus does find us at our worst. He does not care about that. It doesn't matter to Him. It's saving us that matters to Him.
The whole reason that He hasn't returned yet is because there are yet still people whom haven't said yes to His free gift of salvation.
Jesus doesn't look at all you see. Jesus looks at what's possible inside of you.
"The Lord appeared to him from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness." Jeremiah 31:3.
And as if that weren't enough...just so you know...even after people come to Christ for salvation...they still don't get it right all the time.
People still sin after coming to Christ. Yet we aren't defined by our sin anymore. We are those saved in Christ Jesus who have forgiveness of our sins possible through the blood of Jesus Christ. We can be forgiven, washed clean again, just by asking for Him to forgive. It's then on us to live better, turning away from those things that brought about that sin.
Jesus could be waiting for you before coming back to gather up every Believer among the dead and the living.
Jesus isn't willing that any should perish but that all might be saved through Him. But, my Dear Reader, He isn't going to force you...you have free choice. The alternative isn't what the world would have you believe. Eternal separation from God is the result of rejecting God's free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Coming to Christ, He takes all the punishment of your sins upon Himself. That's what happened back over 2,000 years ago on the cross. We put our faith and trust in His finished work on the cross. Any who say no to this will spend eternity paying the price for all of their own sins in extremely painful torment and misery in a place that originally was for Satan and his demons.
While anyone yet breathes, there's hope unto salvation in Jesus Christ.
You may not escape the consequences of your choices in your physical life after coming to Christ for salvation, or He may rescue you from some or all of that. We who come to Christ for salvation are a new creation, old things have passed away and new things have come. That's a promise from God the Father in Christ Jesus through His Spirit to everyone who Believes.
There's coming a time when Jesus is coming back. He kept His promise to come the first time and He will keep His promise to come again.
Please stop and think about this. Your eternity is your choice to make. Nobody escapes that decision. When a person dies the choice is sealed in blood. Either their own blood or the blood of Jesus Christ. The unbelieving die with sin tainted blood. The believing die with the holy blood of Jesus Christ that is free of all sin.
The Bible says that blessed is he whom the Lord takes away their sins and remembers them no more.
(Paraphrased).
More specifically...
"How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered! How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit!" Psalms 32:1-2.
The Angels in Heaven are always rejoicing with great joy when someone down here says yes to His free gift of salvation.
Think about it. Jesus is waiting for you to ask Him to come into your life to be the forgiver of your sins and the leader of your life.
There's a line from a song that's very appropriate. "While He was on the cross, I was on His mind.".
Truer words probably were never spoken.
What do you do?
"But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that 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. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:8-13.
It really is that simple.
It really is that easy.
Really.
Everyone will stand before Jesus one day.
They either stand before Jesus as someone who put their faith and trust in His finished work on the cross, pure and holy, sin free or they stand before Jesus condemned for their own sins.
He knew you before you were born and knows everything about your entire life...and still wants to save you. When He was on the cross He looked into the future to your life and mine. All your sins were yet future to the cross. You were on His mind.
There's room at the cross for you.
If you want to know more...text the word JESUS to (330) 264-9459. That's the number of the Church we go to. There will be someone to respond to you and show you how you too can be saved.
The offer is free. Salvation is free to all who would receive it.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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