When we see something get damaged or someone being a victim of injustice one of the first thoughts that goes through our minds is “somebody’s going to have to pay for that.” We want to know who is going to pay for the hurt that was caused or the damage that was done. We’ll think it for sure if it’s something of ours that was damaged! 🙂
A time when no payment was required
There was once something so perfect and there was no fault whatsoever. Nothing needed to be paid for because nothing had been damaged and there was nothing wrong. It was exactly how it was intended to be.
The perfect thing was all of what God created. Humanity, earth, animals, space and everything else was absolutley perfect. It was once all perfect exactly the way it was intended to be.
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. ( Genesis 1:31)
It didn’t stay perfect though
After God created humanity we see a character who is referred to as the “serpent” who deceives the beautiful creation called humanity. He shows up and twists God’s words and gets humanity to fall into sin.
The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. (Genesis 3:2-4)
Once God’s words were twisted the devil was able to deceive and get humanity to sin by eating the fruit directly disobeying God. Once this happened, it wasn’t perfect anymore. Sin had entered the world… humanity listened to the one who is the author of lies.
When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:44)
The devil has always been a liar and he’s always had the same mission which is to destroy what God beautifully created. He’s still lying to this day to us… telling us “no one likes you”, “you’re not good enough” and “you’ve sinned to much for God to forgive you.” He also confuses us with our feelings by telling us “if you feel it, it must make it right so go ahead and do it.” It’s on repeat. Sadly, many of us pay to much attention to him and start believing what he says is true.
We need help to fight against him. We need a way to overcome wrong with good. We need a savior because what was once perfect is now broken and we need to realize it.
The perfect creation is broken, what now?
Somebody’s gotta pay
We are all God’s children and he’s loved us all along… even if we don’t love him. He loves us so much he came up with a plan for us to be reconciled back to him.
God cannot sin and in heaven there is no sin, it doesn’t exist. So when we sin, it separates us from God. That’s what sin essentially is on it’s face, separation from God. We need to be saved from sin in order to be restored back to our Heavenly Father. Which is where the Christmas story comes from.
God sent his son Jesus to earth so we might be saved and he chose his son Jesus to be born from purity which aligns with God’s nature.
You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The LORD God will give him the throne of his father David, (Luke 1:31-32)
Jesus is our hope to be restored back to God. He’s the only way.
God sent his son to live a perfect life in our place which is something we could never do. Jesus’ teachings were all about peace, love, honor, humility and obedience to God. He was teaching us what heaven is like. Heaven was brought down to us through Jesus! How awesome is that 🙂
After Jesus lived a perfect sinless life of 33 years, it was time to finish the work he was sent here to do. Jesus was on the cross dying as a payment for our sin.
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
When something is broken, someone has to pay. That someone is Jesus. Jesus said this while on the cross:
When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30)
He knew what he had come to do was completed.
It’s only because of that sacrifice we get to be saved and live in harmony with God. Jesus is the payment for sin that had to be made. Without the debt being paid for us, there’s no way we could be saved on our own.
How to be saved and what will happen
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is LORD,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)
Once you do this you are instantly saved and reconciled back to God. It is the most amazing feeling in the world! You may do this, by prayer. But you must mean it not praying it out of vain.
“Father I have sinned. I believe Jesus came here and lived a perfect life in my place that I cannot live. Jesus I believe you died on the cross for my sins and I accept you as my Lord and savior. Come into my heart Jesus and have your way with me. Amen.”
Once you’ve prayed that prayer the new life ahead of you is amazing! Your circumstances may not change instantly but the work that Jesus is going to do in you and through you has only just began.
The peace you will feel in life now will be unimaginable 🙂 God is with you and he will never leave you. You have a helper in him and he loves you deeply. You have a new identity and it’s “a loved child of God.” In Jesus you are loved, chosen, forgiven, favored and gifted.
To read more about the Christmas story and advent, click here.
I encourage you to check out this post about some next steps for you to take in your new journey by clicking here. Thanks for reading and the best is yet to come!
If you received Christ as a result of reading this let share it! Email hello@bryantwestbrook.com to share your story or comment below.
Bryant Westbrook 