Charles Lamb said “New Year’s Day is every man’s birthday.”
We are just hours from a New year. If we believe Lamb, then we all will be having a birthday.
The reason we like to celebrate a New Year is that desire to begin again. Well, I have some GREAT NEWS. No, its not about the economy, politics or sports. But even more important. YOU CAN BEGIN AGAIN.
That's the good news of Jesus. How?
No one can begin again without realizing your need of a new beginning. Nothing every changes until one realizes the need for change.
Only the Holy Spirit using the Word of God can show you who you really are. A desperate, depraved, and destitute person without God. Our sin has separated us from a holy and just God. We are not good...at least not according to God's standards.
In our realization of our situation, we become broken to the place that we no longer blame anyone or anything for our condition and circumstances. We see that we are the problem. And we see the magnitude of our problem so repulsive to God that we even understand and stop arguing the justice of hell and justice. We even see that if God did not save us and sent us straight to hell, that we'd understand.
But in that moment of brokenness, the Holy Spirit will show us that it was for that person that Jesus died. Jesus took our punishment - our hell - on the cross. He died in our place. What love. He did it not because we deserved it (we have already determined that) - but that He loved the Father who wanted to have relationship with us and could not because of our sin. So Jesus died for our sin so we could live and not die.
If you will simply put your faith (trust) in Jesus alone; then you can be saved. You can not trust anything else or anyone else - but everyone is just like you (yes, Billy Graham, the Pope, Mother Teresa, you name them). And you can't trust your own works because they are coming from such a horrible person.
Trust only Jesus. If you are broken, I don't have to tell you what to do. It will flow. You will express your sorrow to this precious Saviour and hate who you are and what you have done that you never want to be that person or do that again. (This is called repentance).
The good news is that Jesus has already forgiven you, and He will respond to your sorrow and repentance with washing you as white as snow - lifting your burden - and making you new.
It will be Jesus and Jesus alone that saves you. Trusting only Him.
Then tell someone. Call someone - write them an email - go to a local church and tell them what you have done. More importantly - what Jesus has done in you!!
I pray that won't experience a new year, but a new you!
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