I'm Sorry (part 2)

Relationship

We have broken our relationship with our God. Our selfishness, our disobedience, our anger towards Him and our rebellion against His Word have built insurmountable walls between us. We have built these walls; yet God still loves us; they need to be taken down.

He wants to be part of our lives so much, yet we constantly turn Him away. His desire is for us to come back to Him. He wants to restore our relationship with Him; as it was in the beginning. He desires to give us a much better, more fulfilled life than we have at present; but we need to come to Him and say we are sorry, to restore things, as Bill did. It is that simple; but not possible by our own efforts! ‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope’ (Jeremiah 29:11 NASB).

What does God offer us?

He offers a wonderful plan for our life; He offers hope; He extends His love and forgiveness; He offers a future; He offers healing. He offers all this for now, today and forever! He offers the good news that we can be reconciled with Him through His Son, Lord Jesus Christ.

‘For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes’ (Rom. 1:16).

How did God do this?

He gave His only Son, Jesus, to die for us. ( John 3:16) so that we will be released from the power that evil has over us and be free to return to God. The result of the sacrifice that Jesus made for us is that we are washed and cleansed of all this evil; and being clean and set free, we can come back to God. Our part in this is to accept and believe in Jesus, as the Son of God and invite Him into our life as our Lord and Saviour, in effect to come before Him and say we are sorry, receive His forgiveness and in His power turn away from the things in our life that caused this separation in the first place.

‘The law of Moses could not save us, because of our sinful nature. But God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent His own Son in a human body like ours, except that ours are sinful. God destroyed sin’s control over us by giving His Son as a sacrifice for our sins’ (Rom. 8:3).

What does that verse mean? Simply that the Ten Commandments and God’s laws and commands in the Old Testament were given only as a guide to how we should be living our lives. These laws can never make us right with God, they can never forgive us for our selfishness and disobedience to God. God knew this but He had an ultimate plan, which began with Abraham, and these laws were put in place waiting for the final act of love when God, in His Son, Jesus, would Himself come to earth and die for us, destroying the power of evil by His resurrection and enabling us to come back to Him.

‘God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son [Jesus]. He who has the Son [Jesus] has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life’ ( 1 John 5: 11,12 NASB [my paraphrase] ).

What did Jesus do?

He died for us, making it possible for this to happen. Should we reject all the good things He is offering? We can search and do all the ‘good works’ we can find to do. Donate thousands of pounds to charity, participate in all the ‘good causes’; but without Christ, they will only ever be just that: good works. They benefit our self and others; but not our soul. They can never be a way back to God, although subconsciously we may seek that. The desire in our hearts to do good works, whether we believe in God or not, is a revelation to us from God. It is to be applauded and encouraged. Yet it does not make us right with God.

Bruce Milne, in his book ‘Know the Truth’ explained this awareness of doing good as a revelation from God about Himself which is in the heart of every single person who has ever lived. We all know the difference between good and evil.

‘Biblical references confirm that God has revealed Himself to all in the conflicts of our moral experience. God has not left Himself without testimony - we all have some awareness that the sense of obligation to do good and to spurn evil reflects the will of an ultimate Lord to whom we are finally responsible. Everyone is confronted by God [at some point in their lives] and therefore carries responsibility for the lack of a true relationship to Him’ - ( Know the Truth, Bruce Milne. Inter Varsity Press: Ch 2 [my explanation] ).

‘They demonstrate that God’s law is written within them, for their own consciences either accuse them or tell them they are doing what is right’ (Rom. 2:15).

Why did Jesus die for us?

The answer is simply this: so that we can be reconciled to God and receive His wonderful plan for our life. His sacrifice to death opened the way for us to come back to God. God loves us so much that He died for us; because that was the only way He could restore our relationship with Him. We cannot do it. He did it for us. It is His gift to us. We can accept this truth, or reject it; it is our choice. Does it matter? Yes, more than anything else in your life.

‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me’ (John 14:6 NASB).

How is Jesus the way back?

If you desire to restore your friendship with God, you need to seek Jesus and receive God’s forgiveness through Him. In faith you must accept Him in your heart as the Son of God and say you are sorry for the things you have done that you know are not of God and then pledge to turn away from them. Through Jesus your relationship with God will be restored, everything will be forgiven by God through Jesus Christ. You will receive a new life, an eternal life. Your past, no matter what it has been will be forgiven by God and forgotten by God.

‘Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ’ (2 Cor. 5: 176,18 NASB).

Your guilt will be removed. God already knows everything about you anyway - so what can you hide from Him? We all instinctively know how we have wronged God, we might deny it; but we know it.

‘But God shows His [wrath] from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who push the truth away from themselves. For the truth about God is known to them instinctively. God has put this knowledge in their hearts - so they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God’ (Rom. 1:19,20).

‘For we are each responsible for our own conduct’ (Gal. 6:5).

Does Jesus matter?

This answer is really up to you. I can only give you the truth from Scripture, you must decide the action to take. It is because of our actions that we break our relationship with God. He is grieved at this breakdown.

‘It broke His heart’ (Gen. 3:6).

You can change that though, right now; by coming to Jesus; remembering the things you have done wrong, saying you are sorry and asking Him to help you and become part of your life. God has offered His hand to you through His Son, Jesus. He died so that you can come back to Him.

Why did God do all this?

Because He loves us. Eventually Jesus will return to the earth, this time to judge everyone. The earth, the world we live in, will pass way. All that we treasure in our lives today: our possessions, money, home, career, will be gone. There will be a new heaven and a new earth.

‘Behold, I am making all things new’ (Rev. 21:5 NASB).

This is the hope God gives us: a new wonderful plan for our lives now and for our future. This is why it is important that why we must seek Him now before that day. In the days of Noah everyone was ignoring what God had said through him until the flood came and it was too late. So today we can continue to ignore and reject God’s message through Jesus; and one day it will be too late. Gods wants none to be lost but all to be saved. He is patient and we may think that the message is gone and finished; but it is not. God has set a day for the return of His Son.

‘The Lord isn’t really being slow about His promise to return, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so He is giving more time for everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise’ (2 Peter 3:9).

‘For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, they were marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so shall the coming of the Son of Man be’ (Matthew 24:37-39 NASB).

‘..so also Christ died only once as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again but not to deal with our sins again. This time He will bring salvation to all those who are eagerly waiting for Him’ (Heb. 9:28).

Jesus has made it possible. You are invited to come to Jesus, receive His forgiveness, say you are sorry; or reject Him.

I just noticed an advertisement in a mail shot I received today. It said, ‘When life takes a wrong turn who can you trust to protect you?’ There is only one answer. Trust Jesus. He has promised to help you; and He is more than able to. He is not a fairy story. He is truth.

‘Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’ (Rom. 10:13).

I'm Sorry (part 1)

Bill shut the door, walked down the pathway to his car and knew it was going to be a bad day. The alarm had not gone off; the toast had burnt; the papers had not arrived; and he was late. What else could happen? He hated these days: the ones that started out of ‘sync’. The ones were he felt it would be better to go back to bed and start over again.

Surprisingly, the traffic was okay, he had expected to be cursing and swearing all the way to work, at the slow drivers, the inconsiderate drivers, those who just seemed to get in the way. There was none of that though; it was a peaceful journey; and he felt that maybe, just maybe, things were going to get back in order.

At the office things did not improve. They got worse! During the course of the morning everything seemed to build up against him: more orders came in, making things become unmanageable; the incessant telephone calls broke his concentration; the constant interruptions, as people kept asked things of him. He fought to keep in control, to get things back in order; but knew he was losing the battle. Then finally, his secretary came into the office, with yet another problem that needed solving, immediately!

Why did he think it was her fault? Why did he decide to put all the blame on her for the burdens he was carrying? Why did he blame her because HIS morning had started off badly? He did though. She stood in the doorway holding a handful of papers and all his pent up fustration was unloaded upon her. She reeled under his barrage of unwarranted abuse. Tears welled up inside her. She wanted to help, but knew it was impossible. She placed the papers on the table and walked out, quietly closing the door.

Bill sat alone at his desk. His emotions subsiding. Strangely he felt better now. He had unloaded all his frustration. Got rid of it, on someone else; someone who had not deserved it. He felt guilty. His thoughts now turned to her. Now she was carrying his pain, his sadness. What could he do. He walked out the office to get a coffee, passing her desk on the way to the machine. He glanced at her, she wasn’t looking, her head was down. He could sense the tension between them, something had changed, something had broken. All of a sudden they were not a team anymore, not friends, not colleagues; they were strangers. Yesterday they had been good friends, working well together, as a team. Now something was lost. He sensed the silence and the coldness as he walked back into his office.

He tried to work, but he couldn’t; something was wrong. The door opened and his secretary walked in. Placed some papers on the table with a yellow stick-it note on top, turned without saying anything; and walked back out.

Towards the end of the morning things had not improved. The atmosphere grew more tense. He knew he must do something; it was his fault. Going for another coffee could be a chance to try and set things straight, he thought; though he did not know how. Thoughts raced through his mind. Even if he tried to speak to her, he expected her to reject his initiative. Anyway what could he say to her? What reasons could he give? Could anything he say be of any use now? As he filled his cup from the machine he turned to look at her, she was working, not paying any attention to him. He turned to go back into the office; but he knew he could not pass her desk without saying anything. He must make the first move. He must humble himself. With great effort he stopped and walked around the side of her desk. She looked up at him; not in any intimate way, just in the way a secretary looks at her boss, waiting for his instruction. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said, ‘I should not have said that to you, it’s not your fault, it’s mine.’

The ice was broken, they sat and talked about what had happened. The working relationship was restored, they were friends again. As he walked back into his office, he was warmed by the ease with which she had forgiven him. There was no animosity from her; just forgiveness. He felt something powerful in this, something he had not known before; most people would have held a grudge. He shut the door. What he didn’t notice though was his secretary quietly praying for him.

I'm Sorry (part 1)

Bill shut the door, walked down the pathway to his car and knew it was going to be a bad day. The alarm had not gone off; the toast had burnt; the papers had not arrived; and he was late. What else could happen? He hated these days: the ones that started out of ‘sync’. The ones were he felt it would be better to go back to bed and start over again.

Surprisingly, the traffic was okay, he had expected to be cursing and swearing all the way to work, at the slow drivers, the inconsiderate drivers, those who just seemed to get in the way. There was none of that though; it was a peaceful journey; and he felt that maybe, just maybe, things were going to get back in order.

At the office things did not improve. They got worse! During the course of the morning everything seemed to build up against him: more orders came in, making things become unmanageable; the incessant telephone calls broke his concentration; the constant interruptions, as people kept asked things of him. He fought to keep in control, to get things back in order; but knew he was losing the battle. Then finally, his secretary came into the office, with yet another problem that needed solving, immediately!

Why did he think it was her fault? Why did he decide to put all the blame on her for the burdens he was carrying? Why did he blame her because HIS morning had started off badly? He did though. She stood in the doorway holding a handful of papers and all his pent up fustration was unloaded upon her. She reeled under his barrage of unwarranted abuse. Tears welled up inside her. She wanted to help, but knew it was impossible. She placed the papers on the table and walked out, quietly closing the door.

Bill sat alone at his desk. His emotions subsiding. Strangely he felt better now. He had unloaded all his frustration. Got rid of it, on someone else; someone who had not deserved it. He felt guilty. His thoughts now turned to her. Now she was carrying his pain, his sadness. What could he do. He walked out the office to get a coffee, passing her desk on the way to the machine. He glanced at her, she wasn’t looking, her head was down. He could sense the tension between them, something had changed, something had broken. All of a sudden they were not a team anymore, not friends, not colleagues; they were strangers. Yesterday they had been good friends, working well together, as a team. Now something was lost. He sensed the silence and the coldness as he walked back into his office.

He tried to work, but he couldn’t; something was wrong. The door opened and his secretary walked in. Placed some papers on the table with a yellow stick-it note on top, turned without saying anything; and walked back out.

Towards the end of the morning things had not improved. The atmosphere grew more tense. He knew he must do something; it was his fault. Going for another coffee could be a chance to try and set things straight, he thought; though he did not know how. Thoughts raced through his mind. Even if he tried to speak to her, he expected her to reject his initiative. Anyway what could he say to her? What reasons could he give? Could anything he say be of any use now? As he filled his cup from the machine he turned to look at her, she was working, not paying any attention to him. He turned to go back into the office; but he knew he could not pass her desk without saying anything. He must make the first move. He must humble himself. With great effort he stopped and walked around the side of her desk. She looked up at him; not in any intimate way, just in the way a secretary looks at her boss, waiting for his instruction. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said, ‘I should not have said that to you, it’s not your fault, it’s mine.’

The ice was broken, they sat and talked about what had happened. The working relationship was restored, they were friends again. As he walked back into his office, he was warmed by the ease with which she had forgiven him. There was no animosity from her; just forgiveness. He felt something powerful in this, something he had not known before; most people would have held a grudge. He shut the door. What he didn’t notice though was his secretary quietly praying for him.

Gone Astray

Once we know Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, He will never leave us or forsake us - this is His promise. Life as a Christian is not always easy and many times we will lose the plot and go astray - some more than others. Once we know the truth, the path is laid before us that we can walk on - we may not always see it, but it is there! Yet we can miss the path and get drawn into the things which are not of the Lord; temptations come and we chose to walk the world’s way and not the Lord’s. At times like this we can feel as though there is no way back; we have sinned against God and have blown it!

Sheep gone astray

Jesus talked about this in the Gospel of Matthew:

‘What do you think? If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying? If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray’ (Mt.18: 12-14).

Promise

The promise to those who come to accept and follow Jesus is:

‘My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand’ (John 10:29 NASB).

Restoration

Do not be condemned, return to the Lord and He will forgive you and restore you, you are never lost - repent - seek the Lord; all sins can be forgiven.

‘Turn me again to you and restore me, for you alone are the LORD my God’ (Jeremiah 31:18).

‘I assure you that any sin can be forgiven, including blasphemy’ (Mark 3:28).

Decision to believe!

When will you make a decision to believe and follow Jesus Christ? When you have indisputable proof? When you see the holes in His hands? When you know for sure? When will you respond to your heart and your conscience? When will you accept Him as your friend and helper? When will you let Him love you? When will you open your heart and respond to His message?

Rich Man & Lazarus

Jesus told a story ( Luke 16: 19-31) about a rich man; he died and went to hell because of his sins. While he had lived on earth in luxury, he had ignored a beggar called Lazarus who sat daily at his gate waiting for help from him. Both of them died; Lazarus was taken up into heaven, while the rich man went to hell. The rich man was in torment and saw Lazarus sat with Abraham in paradise while he was suffering, full of sorrow and regretting how he had lived his life.

The rich man realised that he could have obeyed God’s word - now it was too late! He asked for mercy, he cried out;

‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in anguish in these flames’ (Luke 16:24).

Abraham then reminded him of how he had lived for himself during his time on earth, rejected the Word of God; and so was now reaping the consequences of his selfishness. Also a great chasm separated them both and nobody from either side could cross it.

The rich man then asked Abraham to send Lazarus back to his family;

‘I want him to warn them about this place of torment so they won’t have to come here when they die’ (Luke 16:28).

Abraham told the rich man,

“‘Moses and the prophets have warned them [already]. Your brothers can read their writings anytime they want to.’ The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will turn from their sins.’ But Abraham said, ’If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even if someone rises from the dead’” (Luke 16:27-31) [My Paraphrase].

What is Jesus saying?

What is Jesus saying here? We need to place this messsage in today’s context. The message of Jesus: the gospel, has already been told; the work of Jesus is complete; there is no more. Jesus has won our salvation. He will return and we will all be judged on whether we have accepted Him or rejected Him in our life ( Matthew 25: 31-46).

Rejection

The rich man realised too late that what he had rejected all his life was in fact the truth. In the same way that we can reject the gospel: the message of Jesus and go about our daily lives in selfishness, putting ourselves first, pushing Jesus aside and carrying on living without Him in our lives. We can dismiss the gospel as rubbish, an old story that bears no relevance today. We can reject it because we wish to continue living the way we are and in our pride not humble ourselves to turn to Jesus.

Eternity

In telling the story of the rich man Jesus is making us aware of our selfishness and that how we live today will have consequences which will affect us for eternity. The rich man was in torment - he had accepted his eternal fate - he knew he could not change it and in remorse he did not want his family to suffer the same fate as him. He wanted them to believe in Jesus before it was too late. He could not cross the chasm to warn them. Jesus does not want the same fate for us, He loves us too much, but it is our choice.

The Gospel of Jesus

Jesus says that the truth has been told through God’s Word, the message of salvation and forgiveness of our sins has already been accomplished by his death, but people refuse to believe this now. The rich man’s plea is that if someone was to return from the dead, they - his family - will turn from their sins. Jesus returned from the dead! Do you believe Him and turn from your sins? Or continue to reject Him and live for yourself; regarding His message and death as immaterial? Is even the message of someone dying for you and then returning from the dead, to give you the chance of being saved from the same fate as the rich man enough to make you turn to follow Jesus - is it?

As with the rich man, the message has been given, will it make you change your ways and turn to Jesus ? Have you believed this and acted upon it, or will you wait until it is too late and then cry out for mercy. The choice is yours - Jesus has already done everything, the rest is up to you. Your choice is now an act of faith. We cannot wait until we know for sure - we have to take that step. When we do know for sure, it will be too late! Jesus loves us - enough to die for us; and wants us to be stood with Him in paradise like Lazarus. Could he do anymore? Can you for Him? Is He not worthy of your love? He is waiting for you.

Going Forward

If you feel you want to know more about this, or seek out Jesus in your life then the link below will direct you to a Church in your area who will be able to help you on this journey.