We can’t imagine a life without sin, pain, shame, death, loss, grief, tears, etc. The list can go on and on. Our only experience with life is living in a sin cursed world. We’ve never known a life without these things, yet God promises that one day we can experience a new life if we trust in Jesus.
As the news unfolds of tragedy after tragedy, how do we believers hold on to this promise?
How do we have hope that one day we won’t have to wake up hearing that policemen in our city have been shot to death? Or wake up to text after text from loved ones asking if you are okay?
A life without tragedy. I honestly can’t picture it. If we can’t picture this new world that is promised to us, how can we trust in it?
Instead, we only know about a life with sin.
What is sin?
You’ve seen the results of it on the news. Sin is the breaking of the peace. Vandalism of shalom. Perversion. Turning away from God. Sin defiles the sinner, pollutes the world, and contaminates the person’s relationship with God. Sin takes away value.
Sin has corrupted all we know. This struggle and the pain we feel is a constant reminder of man’s rebellion against God.
Sin leads to death…
…except for those who know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. This my friends, is God’s gift of GRACE. We could have no hope and no promise of a better future, but instead God promises’ us a new world with no pain.
God’s grace is so great that sin cannot overcome it. We are no longer slaves to sin. This means that the pains of this world will not control us. GRACE now reigns over our lives.
Let’s read about the new world that God promises us in 2 Peter 3:3-13:
“Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.”
Be encouraged friends, God created this world. Nothing that is currently happening is shocking to Him. His plans are perfect and one day we will experience a new world.
Have hope my friends. And pray. Pray, pray, and pray some more.
This world needs Jesus. This world needs the same hope that you have as a believer in Christ. This world needs freedom from sin, death and pain.
Do you want to experience Jesus’s love and forgiveness? Do you want to know how to know God personally and experience eternal life in a new world? Click to read more.
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Jill Barlow
at (8 years ago)My Pastor just taught about grace yesterday.. and how sin and the law lead to death, but Jesus came with grace.
joypedrow
at (8 years ago)Yes, what a great message! I’m so glad God led you to this blog.