Changing Roads
Changing the Road You Walk On
I am thrilled that you have chosen to find out more information about changing the road you walk on. If you desire to experience real peace and joy in your life and to fulfill the purpose for which you have been created, then read on.
We all have been born with a sin problem. In the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 7, verse 20, it is written, “There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.” We like to think we are pretty good people…at least most of the time. But we can never be good enough on our own.
The problem is, sin creates a huge chasm between us and having a relationship with God. You see, God is holy and cannot tolerate sin in His presence. He designed us to have an intimate relationship with Him, yet we can’t be close to Him if we are still wearing our filthy rags. In the book of Isaiah, chapter 64, verse 6, it describes our condition without Christ as, “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind, our sins sweep us away.”
We may try our hardest to be good and measure up. But there is nothing we can do that will ever be good enough to earn God’s favor and eternal life after we die.
"Religious" or Relationship?
I’ve heard people say they are “religious.” What does that mean? Is that enough to earn a place in God’s kingdom?
Most of the time what I think it means is that they perform certain rituals, say certain prayers and observe specified holy days and seasons. What they don’t realize is that while they appear to be very well dressed in the spiritual sense, they are really unclean and wearing filthy rags and are still dead spiritually in their sins. Does this describe you? If so, there is hope! That hope is found in and through a relationship with Jesus Christ!
You see, the wages of sin, or what we earn when we sin, is death. Not just physical death, but eternal death which is separation from God forever. In the beginning when God created the earth, He created mankind after His own image. He gave us the gift of free will. He didn’t want to force us to love Him. He wanted us to choose that on our own. After all, how satisfying would our relationships be here on earth if others were forced to love us instead of choosing to on their own?
We were created to have intimate fellowship with God. However, sin entered the world when Adam and Eve chose to disobey God and rebel against Him for their own selfish gain. It was their desire to be like God that drove them to sin. After that, their intimate relationship with God was severed. And there was no way for them to make things right again.
God in His love decided to make a way and that way is through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. Jesus paid the price [DEATH] for you and me. He took our place. The Word of God says that Jesus actually became sin for us, so that we might become righteous in God’s eyes.
In the New Testament book of Romans, chapter 5, verse 8 it says, “but God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” One of my favorite verses is found in 2 Corinthians 5:17, which is also found in the New Testament. It states, “therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old is gone, the new has come!”
My friend, Jesus can make you a NEW CREATION! No matter what you’ve done, Jesus can and desires to make you NEW!
Choosing to Follow Jesus
The only way to change the road you are walking on is to change who you are following. To do so, you must be willing to surrender yourself and all that you are and have to Jesus. The world today doesn’t think too highly of surrender. In the world’s eyes it is only the weak who surrender. We are told that if we are strong we will have everything we want in life and more. The mantra, “If it is to be it’s up to me!” rings in our ears. We are taught to glorify our SELF, to meditate and empty our minds and to become one with the cosmic energy of the universe. That if we just think positively good things will come to us. These messages bombard us today from all directions! They scream so loudly that they seem to drown out the voice of Jesus who says in Luke 9:24, “whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.”
In the New Testament book of Acts, chapter 4, verse 12, referring to the name of Jesus Christ, it states that, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Contrary to popular thought today, we can’t save ourselves and there is no other way to heaven except through Jesus Christ. He is “the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father accept through Him.” (John 14:6). Jesus came to set us free. In John, chapter 8, verse 34, “Jesus replied, ‘I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
How to Be Free Indeed!
Step one:
Acknowledge to God that you are a sinner in need of His salvation.
Romans 3:23 - "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
Romans 6:23 - "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Step two:
Repent, which means to turn away from your old life of sin towards the new life that Jesus offers. Tell God that you are tired of your old ways, that your desire is to follow Jesus and to have Him make you a new creation. Renounce Satan and any hold that he may have on you. Claim the blood of Jesus over your spirit, soul, mind and body and give your allegiance forever to Him.
Step three:
Surrender all that you are and have to Jesus. Ask Him to please come into your heart and life and to make you a new creation. Believe that He has answered and has come into your heart and life (all by faith). Even if you don’t feel any different in the beginning, God’s Word clearly states that you are a new creation created in Christ Jesus. (2 Corinthians 5:17, Acts 2:21, Romans 10:8-13)
Step four:
Ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit, who is given to believers as a seal of our salvation in Christ. The Holy Spirit is the one who leads and guides believers and enables them to live for Jesus alone.
Step five:
Give praise to God! By placing your faith, hope and trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation, you are now a NEW CREATION in Him! Welcome to the family of God!
You have now begun your journey on the road that leads to life! You are now following the only One who can help you truly walk on the heights!
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