NATURE AND NEED

We live in a crazy world of identity obsession. People can identify as something other than that which they physically are. You can identify as a furry animal and request a litter tray at a local high school. The problem with all of this is that while I might like to identify as a 6ft 9 basketball player, it simply is not true. I could tell my wife I identify as being only 160lbs but my physical rotund shape tells a different story.

Lying to others is one thing but lying to ourselves is just plain silly and delusional. This is also true when it comes to our real nature. We may think of ourselves as invincible but life creeps up on us, and ailments and medication become the norm. We might think of end of life being end of existence but another life event creeps up on us. Life after Death. Are you willing to risk it on the basis that you identify as worm-fodder?

The Bible speaks clearly about our nature. Yes, the wise King Solomon got it right on that one: ‘He has set eternity in the hearts of men’. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) We do not cease to exist. The ‘eternity’ that God placed in every one of us is, well, ‘eternal’. But with our ‘crooked’ nature (despite whatever we might identify as), means that our relationship with our Creator is one of broken rules and a judgement to come.

In short, we ‘need’ a Savior. And this ‘crux’ of the matter is what life really is all about. In fact it is what the Bible is all about! It concerns the Coming of the Son of Man, the daughter of Eve, the Son of David, the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53. In other words, our nature is that we are all sinners and we need a Savior. That is exactly what Messiah Jesus came to do.

1 John 3:8 ‘The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work’.

Luke 19:10 ‘The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.’

So faced with your nature and your need what must you do to be saved? That IS the crucial question. And the answer is clear – ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, you and your household’ (Acts 16:31).

Turning from your sins (even the sins of trusting in works) and putting your faith in the finished ‘Work’ of the Messiah Jesus on the cross, is the only solution to your nature and your need.

Will you turn today?

The prophet Ezekiel challenged his hearers many centuries ago (Ezekiel 33:10-11):

‘And you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, Thus have you said: ‘Surely our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we rot away because of them. How then can we live?’ Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?’

Why indeed? Repent, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and live!