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Decision Determines Destiny
God's Remedy
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The Bible informs us that all mankind has an inherent problem called sin. But there is a solution, and that solution is only found in Jesus Christ. He is the gift of God as expressed in Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord". God gives His gift freely to all who ask. Romans 10:13 "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved".
John 14:6 informs us that Jesus is the only way. "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." Also, Acts 4:12 tells us, "Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved". |
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God loves us and would prefer not to punish us for our sin; but, He is also just, and therefore must punish sin. God provided a Remedy for sin in the person of His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus died in our place to pay the penalty for our sin, so that we would be spared being forever separated from God in hell. Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this; while we were still sinners, Christ died for us". I Peter 3:18 "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit".
Recall, if you can, the the words of Hamlet in Shakespeare's play. In a moment of deep contemplation, he mused, "To be or not to be: that is the question" (III.i.56). He was contemplating suicide because life had become unbearable. Yet when he thought of where that might lead him, he continued:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or take arms against the sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them? To die, to sleep;
No more; and by a sleep we say we end
The heartache and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation
devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;
To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub;
For in that sleep of death what dreams may come
When we have shuffled off this mortal coil. (III.i 58-67)
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Hamlet finds suicide both attractive and repulsive. If he could be sure that it would rid him of his sea of troubles, he would do it; but he fears that "undiscover'd country from whose bourn / No
traveler returns" (III.i.79-80). His present ills might be pleasant to the fate that would await him.
Compare Hamlet's dilemma with that of Paul in
Philippians 1:21-24, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake".
Hamlet says, "Live or die, I lose!". Paul says, "Live or die, I win!".
What a difference Christ makes!
What have you done with Jesus Christ - The Remedy?
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