A New Life
Cyndi and I have watched some shows about a family and some friends that take old “camp” buildings in Maine and restore them to better than they ever were. It is amazing to see how they can take a weathered, rotting, cramped building and make it look so good. There are many shows today that do renovation, but these start out as some of the worst that I have ever seen.
As I was thinking about this, I began to think about a human being that is lost. The Bible tells us that Jesus came to save sinners, Luke 19:10, “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (NASB) The apostle Paul said that “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 Later in the book of Romans he stated, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 6:23 Therefore, we know that people are lost and need the good news of Jesus Christ in their lives.
Jesus took a woman who was a sinner and gave her great hope. In the book of John, it is recorded how Jesus took a sinful woman who was guilty of adultery and forgave her. The Scribes and Pharisees brought this woman who was caught in the very act of adultery. “The Law Moses gave said to stone her, what do you say?” ...Jesus just stooped down and began to write on the ground with His finger. They insisted and He stood and said, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her stone.” He stooped down and wrote again and from the eldest to the younger, each one of them departed. Jesus stood up asked where they were. Did no one condemn you? She told Him no and His words to her were, “neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more” (8:3-11)
What a powerful moment this was in this woman’s life. She had broken one of the Ten Commandments the Jews lived under at that time. And, as the Scribes and Pharisees had said, the punishment was stoning to death. Jesus took a woman who was a wretched sinner and forgave her. He took a life that was full of sin and made it whole again. That’s what Jesus does.
Isn’t it wonderful that no matter what the sin is that we commit, that if we are repentant, our God will forgive us. He can change a life that is full of evil and give hope of eternal life. So, how about you? Tired of living for the devil? Jesus defeated him when He rose from the grave in three days like He said He would. By obeying the gospel and surrendering your life to the Lord, what a change can take place! And it will be so much better than the renovation of a house. It is a new life (Romans 6:3-5)