Romans 6:23 “For
the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ
Jesus our Lord.”
Continuing from yesterday’s
post, the answer to Pastor Kennedy’s question: “Is there no cure for sadness
whose source is sin, for this dead in sin world of woe in which we find
ourselves?” is: ah, yes, there is Good News. What can wash away your sins? - Nothing but the blood of Jesus! For there came into this world God incarnate, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief, who
took all of our woes, all of our sighs, all of our tears, all of our grief
and all of our sadness via sin upon Himself and went to Calvary’s Cross to
redeem us as a sacrificial sacrifice in our place. There the wrath of God came
and consumed them all as Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world. Jesus
rose from the dead on that glorious Easter morning, as King of joy at whose
right hand there is joy forevermore. Our Savior tells us to rejoice, for our
sins are forgiven, forgotten and washed forever away, and a new Spirit is
placed within us. We may have the joy of the Lord as our portion each morning.
Jesus said in John
10:10 “The thief (Satan) comes
only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and
have it abundantly.”
Kennedy proclaims, Yes,
there is a cure for sadness, and that cure is the grace of God and the Spirit
of the living God that can create a new heart in all of those who will trust in
the blessed Savior and will rejoice in Him. The opposite of sadness is joy. If
there is any in this world who have real and lasting joy and happiness, it is
because they have discovered the joy of Christ, the King of joy. They look
forward to that day when that joy will reach its consummation and fulfillment,
when they shall see Him as He is, face to face. They have the eternal
perspective of Heaven and look forward to the day when they shall enter into
that city where there shall be no more grief, no more sorrow, no more sadness,
and death shall be no more.
John 1:9-14 tells
us, “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He
(Jesus Christ) was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the
world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own
people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who
believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of
God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the
flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became
flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the
only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Ah, what a glorious
expectation! Then, when we have perfect joy and perfect gladness forevermore,
when we shall be rejoined with all those we ever loved and restored to all of
that which we have ever lost. Here, you shall spend eternity. Trust in Him, the
source of joy, and know that sin is forgiven, forgotten and our future is
assured that we may rejoice each morning in mercy ever new and in grace ever
fresh. For Jesus’ sake.
Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment