A Desire to Change

English

I HAVE COME IN ORDER THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE LIFE — LIFE IN ALL ITS FULLNESS. ST.JOHN 10:10

W hen we think of the word “Change“ it simply means to make or become different, a variation in routine, to put on fresh clothing or coverings etc. I want you to focus with me today in your minds as we think on the word “change”. This is something we do on a daily basis, at different times and in different situations. For example, if we should be planing to travel to one of our favourite places for holidays and during the heights of our planning it came to our attention that traveling to such a place at that time would be dangerous, as a deadly disease is spreading through the land, a disease that is taking the lives of many.

JESUS CHANGES LIVES. HE CAN CHANGE YOURS TOO!
What would we do in such a situation? Most naturally, we would have changed our minds, change the flight and we would be satisfied within ourselves knowing that we have made the right decision. Knowing fully well that we have just escaped a possible danger that could result in death. Certainly, it was our special place for holidays, normally, but first things come first and that is ‘us’. We would not want to endanger our lives after knowing those facts, now would we? Today we want to talk about a most dangerous evil, a very subtle evil, an evil that is deadly; one that has been the ruin of the human race ever since creation. Creation here means you and me and the society in which we live and share. We may ask, what evil is this? The Answer is “SIN”.

My contact with you today is to inform you that “SIN” is not only a so-called evil among us, but that it is the most dangerous, subtle and chronic disease ever known in the history of mankind, which distroys not only our moral standing or prestige in society, which cause us to fail and to live below our standards and personal ambitions, but aims to destroy; “The Real us”, “Our Soul”. Yes, the major goal of this disease is not only to distroy or to separate us from the love of God. The love that caused God to send His only son to die in our place, but most of all it wants to deprive us from the very presence of God and the Hope of eternal life, Heaven! If we are affected by something, then we want to know at least what it is.

WHAT IS SIN?

In the first line you must understrand that SIN IS THE DIESEASE OF THE SOUL according to Isaiah 1: 2-6. I will quote:

your whole head is injured, Your whole heart is afflicted. From the sole of your foot to the top of your head. Isaiah 1:5b-6
This is how God discribes our sinful condition. He litterally compares this disease of sin to that of leprocy. It is a state of an unclean condition. Here, God was speaking to Judah and Jerusalem through a vision to His Prophet Isaiah, stating their spiritual condition of which is most relivant to us today and in our times. What God said about them is the same as He is saying about us today. We are all born in sin and are all shapen in iniquity and in sin did our parents concieved us. Do we enjoy being in this condition? If we really know what sin is, the answer is simply “No”, not at all. We would want to be cleansed…. We would want to be set free and be made alive! We would want to find the right Physican with the right medication that could make us whole again!

Main thoughts of observation, however, according to Isaiah 1: 6 is that spiritually speaking, humanity finds himself born into this world in a state of helplessness and in an unclean condition.

  1. Our whole head is injured    speaking about our minds: Wrong thoughts
  2. Our whole heart is afflicted    speaking of the emotion: Wrong emotions
  3. The sole of our feet    symbol of the Will to act: Wrong actions

God said, there is no soundness in us. We are spiritually sick filled with only wounds and bruises and open sores, that are not cleansed or bandaged, nor soothed with oil. It must also be clear of where sin starts. This disease or sin, starts in our thoughts, spreads to our feelings then to our actions. Here it is clear that we are not only born in sin but that we have also commit sins ourselves, adding to it. Sin mixing with sins produced by us is what God named iniquity.

Many people in our society try very hard to live good moral lives, not realizing that they are sinners in spite of their moral lives. Why? Because they do not know what sin is. There is also another group of people who do not realize the danger they are living in, and so they do not find it necessary to turn to the Saviour or even the need to be saved. Not all of us commit the same kinds of sins, as Jesus discribed the symbols of this disease, but are none the less sinners.

Jesus says:

For from the inside, from a person’s heart, come the evil ideas which lead him to do immoral things, to rob, kill, commit adultery, be greedy, and do all sorts of evil things; deceit, indecency, jealousy, slander, pride, and folly — all these evil things come from inside a person and make him unclean. Mark 7: 21-23

We are all born in sin.  In other words we are all born with this disease called sin. King David in his time recognized his condition and admitted it as he cried out to God and said…

I recognize my faults; I am always conscious of my sins.  I have sinned against you – only against you — and done what you consider evil.  So you are right in judging me;  you are justified in condemning me.  I have been evil from the time I was born; from the day of my birth I have been sinful.  Psalm 51: 3-5

The good news today in all of this is that, we do not have to remain in our sinful, fallen or depraved condition.  God has provided the remedy for this disease:  The precious blood of His son Jesus Christ was shed for this very reason.  There is nothing and no one else through which we can be saved or be heald, except through the precious name of Jesus and his rich red blood, shed on the cross for us.  It is true that we are all born with this disease, “sin” and are now living in it, regardless of who we are on this globe.  King David cried out to God to change him, as he saw his helplessness to change. He said:

Remove my sin, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.   Create a pure heart in me, O God, and put a new and loyal spirit in me. Psalm 51: 7,10

Thanks be to God we do not have to die in our tresspasses and sins.  Jesus is our answer!

Like David we have our part to play… “We must first desire to change”.  Sincerity and truth are what God requires.  He will not reject a humble and repentant heart. You just need to ask Him for that change in your life.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say that we have no sin, we decieve ourselves and His word is not in us. 1 John 1: 9-10

I can assure you today that God is willing to forgive you of all your sins as He wants so much to save you.

I do not enjoy seeing a sinner die, I would rather see him stop sinning and live. Ezekiel 33: 11
If you hear God’s voice today, do not be stubborn.  Heb. 4:7
Believe on Him to change you. Repent of your sins, asking His forgiveness, Accept and Acknowledge Him as Saviour and Lord and start following Him as of today. He wants to fill you with His righteousness, giving you His character which produces real love, peace, joy, satisfaction and right living. Are you ready for this challenge today, to say yes to Jesus? There is danger awaiting, if you delay this call today. God bless you. Jesus is calling you today! You may ask; when is the right time to give-up my sins?  The answer is “now”. Hebrews 3: 15  “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.”  Now is your day, your chance! I encourage you to Make the best use of it, while you can. Are you willing to accept God’s free gift for your life, today?  You’ll only need to make the first step.  He promised to help with the rest.

STEPS TO JESUS

Acts 16: 31 (GNV & NIV)  They replied, Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household. John 3: 16  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Acts 2: 38  Peter replied, Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 3: 19  Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord
1 John 1: 9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
ST John 1: 12 (NKJV)  Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. Romans 10: 9-10  That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. V.10.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”
ST. Luke 9: 23  Then he said to them all: If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”


YOUR PRAYER TO GOD

I have sinned against you, but You tell me in your word that You loves me so much, You sent Your Son Jesus to take the punishment for my sins. So I ask You to forgive me and take away all my sins and rebellion. Jesus, I accept You now as my Saviour and Lord.  Thank You for dying in my place. From now on I belong to You.  Come into my life and help me to do what You want me to do. I believe that You do forgive and accept me now. Thank You  for saving me. By Your help I will follow You  all the  days of my life. In Jesus name, Amen.

About the Author:

Evangelist and Missionary Shirley Weingartner founded and leads New Testament Church of God International Switzerland and MORE TO LIFE MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL. See personal testimony.