For nearly 30 years I had wondered.

For nearly 30 years I had wondered.               

I just didn’t get it. I didn’t understand. I had asked myself this question for nearly 30 years. You may have wondered the same thing. I even stated the question, out loud, to my pastor in a church meeting and he went on to the next question. I later decided he didn’t know the answer either. 

My question: How is it that Jesus’ death on the cross saved me from my sins?

I knew He had done it. I was certain I had been redeemed. But, I wanted to know how. How did that work? What was it that took place that gave me Salvation?

I finally got my answer. My husband and I, with our two sons, eventually started attending a church strong in teaching biblical truths. I’ll call it a word church. [That's not to say the answer had never fallen on my ears before. Perhaps I just wasn’t listening.]

Somewhere along the way, through good teaching and personal Bible study I found my answer. I realized how Jesus’ death on the cross, coupled with my belief that it’s true and receiving Him into my heart, gave me the gift of salvation.

This is how it works:

God the Father—Creator of the universe—is holy. In other words, there is no evil—not even a smidgen—of evil or sinfulness in Him. And, He will not, in any way, tolerate sin.

Keep in mind that before Adam and Eve’s original sin, everything was perfect. The Garden of Eden was true paradise, in the fullest sense of the word. It will be so again in the future, after the return of Jesus.

When Adam and Eve sinned, God expelled them from the garden and from that point on mankind was bent toward sin. This first couple had, of their own free will, severed their relationship with God.

From that point on, sickness, hardship and death became part of the human condition. Now for a limited time, Satan is allowed to have certain power and authority on the earth.

So, now man’s (men & women) relationship with God is disconnected and Satan continues to tempt every human to sin against God. God and Satan are cosmic enemies, each one desiring every person to be in his respective kingdom. In the end, we know God wins. God’s ultimate victory is prophesied throughout Scripture and is described in detail in the Book of Revelation.

Meanwhile, God still loved Adam and Eve, as well as all subsequent people born on the earth. God wants everyone to be in fellowship with Him and He desires that all live with Him in His Kingdom when their life on earth ends.

But God will not go against His own nature. And an important characteristic of His nature is that He does not, and never will, tolerate sin. Given the fact that every human ever born sins, we have a serious dilemma.

AND—God wants a family. We were each created in the image of our Heavenly Father (Gen. 1:27) for the purpose of being in fellowship with him. He wants each of us in His eternal family.

So what was God to do? He loved everyone and wanted to have a relationship with each and every person.

Well, God had a plan all along. He knows the end from the beginning (1 Pet. 1:18-20). His Son, Jesus, who was there even in eternity past, was the answer to this cosmic dilemma.

Because of God’s love and mercy for mankind He decided to send Jesus to earth (John 3:16-17). This Messiah--Deliverer--would be born of a virgin for the purpose of restoring mankind to a right relationship with God.

Justice had to be served. That’s why everyone who is born will eventually die. But if we die without having paid for the many sins we’ve each committed in our entire lifetimes, we’ll receive the eternal punishment of Hell. We’re not capable of saving ourselves because we’re tainted with sin. 

But Jesus lived on earth as a man for 33 years and never sinned. He was pure and spotless in every way.

The requirement for justifying our debt of sin was the sacrificial death of a sinless, flawless, spotless man. Only one man ever walked on the earth who could meet this requirement. That one man was Jesus the Christ—Son of God—Son of man.

Photo by Connie Wohlford

 

He is God and He was a man. His life and death perfectly encapsulates the justice and mercy of God. God’s justice and mercy merged at the cross of Christ.

Because Jesus became a man, he could die in our place. We each owe a debt we cannot pay and He paid a debt He did not owe. He took the punishment we deserved.

Jesus is our Deliverer—our Savior—our Messiah! 

He took the punishment for all mankind, but only those who believe and receive Him will actually obtain His salvation and experience eternal life in Heaven with Him.

A lot more could be said to answer the question. God’s Word, the Bible, explains it thoroughly. I recommend that all read the Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John—to learn more about Jesus.

I’m grateful to finally come to a degree of understanding of how it is that Jesus’ death on the cross saved me from my sins. We who are followers of Jesus, will have perfect understanding when we reach Heaven.

Meanwhile, with assurance and joy I am gratefully redeemed to full relationship with my Heavenly Father through the One who took my punishment, Jesus, God’s Son.

I hope you are too. And, if not, I invite you to believe and receive Jesus as your Savior too. Pray and tell God, your Creator, of your decision. May God richly bless you.

Your comments are welcome.

©Connie Wohlford 2018

My Terrible Audition

My Terrible Audition                                               

Have you ever auditioned for anything?

I haven’t many times, but I’ll never forget my very first. I did terrible! And it was so humiliating!

I was in the seventh grade and we had to audition for the choir in the upcoming Christmas program at school. I was a nervous wreck and when I stood next to the piano to sing a line or two, I could hardly get a sound to come out of my mouth. My vocal cords went on strike and the noise that managed to eke through would have made my own mother cringe. 

It was no surprise that when the choir list came out, my name was not on it.

Shortly thereafter we were told that those of us who were not in the choir would be characters in the pageant. I thought, “Well that’s simple enough. I’ve been an angel before in church programs.” 

So finally the time for the cast to gather together to receive our parts and begin rehearsing. I was told that I would be playing the part of Isaiah. 

The voice in my brain said, “Isaiah? Humm—I don’t remember ever seeing that old guy hovering around the manger before.”

I was given my lines and instructed to memorize them. We ran through the various parts and scenes three or four times over the next couple of weeks.

Meanwhile, I took my paper with my part home and began the task of memorization. I was determined not to mess this thing up like I had the singing audition.

As we rehearsed it was confirmed to me that hovering at the manger was not Isaiah’s role regarding the birth of Jesus. He was a prophet of God who had accurately predicted many aspects of the coming Messiah about 700 years prior to Jesus’ birth. As I repeated my lines over and over, the amazing truths about that Baby who occupied the manger grew grander than I had realized before.

Raised in church, at the age of nine I knew I was a sinner and that Jesus’ death on the cross had somehow paid the price of the penalty for my sins. I was grateful for that and always felt it appropriate to celebrate the coming of our Savior as a baby. 

But as I memorized the portion of Isaiah’s prophesy, it occurred to me, then at the age of twelve, that Jesus was more than the only One who could save me and set me on a path to Heaven when I die.

So well I remember the night of the pageant in that darkened mufti-purpose room of McHarg School. Before an overflow crowd of family, friends and faculty, and dressed in a 700 BC consume, I slowly began to walk down the center aisle. When the spotlight hit me, I wanted to panic, but I knew I had an important message to proclaim to the world. 

So in a loud voice and with as much authority as I could muster, I declared, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6 NKJV).

From that might forward, Isaiah’s prophesy impacted my spirit and it continues to be one of my favorite Passages. I’m so glad that my audition performance was unacceptable. I fully believe it was by God’s design all along.

 

Have you ever botched an audition or maybe an interview that ultimately worked out for your good? I love how God uses our frailties to guide us on the path He has ordained.

Side note: McHarg School was and still is a public school. Obviously, the words of Isaiah would no longer be allowed to be a part of a holiday celebration. 

©Connie Wohlford 2016

The First Evangelist

The First Evangelist

Who do you think of when you hear the word evangelist? For many of us, that would be Billy Graham.

By definition, an evangelist is a person who seeks to convert others to the Christian faith, especially by public preaching. (Google search)

Likely, you’ve never wondered who the first in that field was.

Let’s take another look at the woman at the well, as recorded in John’s Gospel. As mentioned in my last post, she was a person who would be unnoticed and disregarded by any Jew—especially any upstanding Jewish man. After all she had three strikes against her: she was a Samaritan; she was a woman; she had a bad reputation. 

Yet Jesus gave her His full attention and even told her He was, in fact, the Jewish Messiah. Other than His disciples, this unqualified woman, whose name we don’t even know, was the first person to whom Jesus revealed His identity as the Christ.

According to John, it was just after Jesus said, “I am He,” that His disciples showed up with lunch. They were shocked to find Jesus having a conversation with this undesirable person. 

The woman, by this time, was full to overflowing with living water. She left her waterpot by the well and rushed back into the city of Sychar. 

John records that she went into the city and told the men, “Come, see a man who told me all things I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” (John 4:39)

Her enthusiasm must have been convincing. Can you imagine the changed countenance of this woman? She was known to the locals as tainted. She was personally insecure and guilt-ridden. But now—now—she was radiant. She had met the Messiah—the Deliverer—Who had just delivered her from her shame and her past. Now, all of a sudden, she was a change agent—an influencer in her city. 

Immediately those she told left the city and went out to see Jesus for themselves. The Gospel writer says that many people of the city believed in Jesus because of her testimony when she said, “He told me all that I ever did” (John 4:39).

The townsfolk then urged Jesus to stay with them for they were hungry for more. Like the woman, they were thirsty for the living water that only Jesus could give.

So Jesus and His disciples stayed with them in Sychar for two days, and according to John, “Many more believed because of His own word. Then they said to the woman, ‘Now, we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world’” (John 4:41-42).

So now this city of Sychar, in the outcast region of Samaria, is known as the first place where a large group of people became followers of Christ. And this outcast woman was the first recorded evangelist. She believed Jesus, then went out to tell her testimony to others and said to them, “Come and see.”

We learn much form John’s chronicled account. Our King will not hesitate to go to downcast places to reach downcast people. We also see here some principles of the Great Commission. As Jesus ascended to Heaven after His resurrection, He said, “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19a).

In obeying His command, we are to tell of our own experiences with Jesus, and invite people to come and see for themselves. We can also introduce others to Jesus, using our Bibles and by inviting them to church.

Without a pulpit or a title, we can tell others about Jesus. Eloquence is not necessary and credentials are not required. Like the woman at the well, we can each be an evangelist. We should routinely ask God to show us who to tell and invite. I know it’s not easy for most of us, but the Holy Spirit is well able to lead us. Also, He just may be preparing that person’s heart to receive what we have to say. 

There are lots of thirsty people out there and within each follower of Christ is an ever-flowing fountain of living water. We have the words of Eternal Life. Let’s tell them to, “Come and see.”

Your comments are welcome.

©Connie Wohlford 2016