Come Inside
Have you ever seen one of those old movies, one where it shows a rough pioneer type cabin from a distance? As you are brought close to the cabin you see a young teenage child. The child has visibly outgrown its clothes. You watch as they pull the too small, worn coat closer in an attempt to keep warm. The wind is howling, the gusts even move the child’s body at times.
You watch as they peer into the cabin window and there inside is a table set with warm food and the fire place is blazing. The child is so hungry it can smell the food, whether real or imaginary. From inside you hear laughter and singing. Outside it is cold and lonely.
Finally someone inside sees the child and draws everyone’s attention to the visitor. The door opens and they beckon the child to enter. The child, while aching inside to be a part, to be inside where it’s warm and save, inside where there is full and plenty, shades the head no and starts to back away.
Perhaps shame is the reason they would choose not to enter, ashamed that someone found them, shame and embarrassment that they are in need of what is being offered. Perhaps the child is disappointed that it could not provide everything for itself. Perhaps even confused because the child though they had everything that could possibly be need, and now find it’s self in a place of greater need.
That is when someone from inside where it is safe and warm chooses to enter the cold cruel world that the child is living in to put their arm around them and walk with them into the warmth, safety and security of the cabin.
Some would call this episode hokey. Some would call it tender and heartwarming. Perhaps the opinion would depend on the viewer’s understanding, their life experience.
To me this is similar to one person finding them self in need of Jesus. Perhaps they have read or heard what Jesus has done or what Jesus has to offer. Perhaps you, the reader don’t know what he has done… or just what he has to offer…
However it has happened, this person has come to realize that they are standing in a place of needing what Jesus has and wants to give, they become like the child in the episode. And just like in the episode, Jesus is the one who left heaven, the glory of heaven and came into the cruel cold world that we live in to place his arm around each one of us and WALK US, WALK WITH US individually into the safety and security, the warmth and love that can only be found in God.
Even if no one else around this person knows what they are feeling inside, they may find themselves embarrassed, maybe because someone has found out that they are in a place of need, maybe even ashamed that they cannot provide everything for themselves by themselves.
But salvation is not something anyone else can provide.
This person may even think to themselves – I have so much, my life is so blessed, how could I possibly need more?
The person may even become upset thinking, “I’am a good person; I’ve lived a good life. I’ve been honest, I’ve helped others who were in need, I’ve prayed for others and God has even answered my prayer. How can anyone say to me…“But you aren't saved if you haven’t intentionally given your life to Christ; if you haven’t said, ‘I’am a sinner. I believe that you died on that cross so that anyone who calls on you for forgiveness will receive it. I believe that you arose from the dead and are with God, the Heavenly Father. While I may be unsure of many things, these things I do believe.
I surrender my life, my soul to you, Lord Jesus, be Lord of my life.”
Well, honestly – it’s a fact. No one has salvation unless they make the confession that they are a sinner... Jesus said, I am the door. No one enters the Father except through the son.
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (The punishment that we have earned for our sins is death. Not just physical death, but eternal death!) But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Jesus Christ died for us! Jesus' death paid for the price of our sins. Jesus' resurrection proves that God accepted Jesus' death as the payment for our sins. That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Because of Jesus' death on our behalf, all we have to do is believe in Him, trusting His death as the payment for our sins - and we will be saved! For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Jesus Christ we can have a relationship of peace with God. Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
The words you just read in the past few paragraphs come from the book of Romans starting in the 6th chapter. Read it for your self. If you don't have a Bible, simply type ROMANS ROAD in the search box of your browser.
Would you like to follow the Romans Road to salvation? If so, here is a simple prayer you can pray to God. Saying this prayer is a way to declare to God that you are relying on Jesus Christ for your salvation. The words themselves will not save you. Only faith in Jesus Christ can provide salvation!
If you find yourself thinking “I’ve never said that.” Or you feel a tugging at your heart, a warmth like the sun’s rays though a window on a cold winters day, a thought that warms you through and through. Where you are right now, pray this prayer:
"God, I know that I have sinned against you and am deserving of punishment. But Jesus Christ took the punishment that I deserve so that through faith in Him I could be forgiven. With your help, I place my trust in You for salvation. Thank You for Your wonderful grace and forgiveness - the gift of eternal life! Amen!"
Once you have prayed the prayer, I would encourage you to pray about someone you can talk to that you can share with them what you have done, receive guidance and encouragement in your new life. Because, it is a new life…we are promised that we are changed, a new creation in Christ Jesus. You will have questions; you will need someone trustworthy to talk with. God will direct you to the person(s) that will help, when you ask.
Be assured, Jesus turns no one away. Don’t you know that he would have died on that cross and rose from the dead even if you were the ONLY person on earth? He would have! That’s how close and personal Jesus wants to be with you. That’s how much God, the Father loves you. He would have given his only Son; he did give his only Son for just you and just me and just for anyone who would call on his Holy name. The Holy Spirit waits to guide and direct you in your new life. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come and live in us. Does that mean that we are not in control of our own lives? Heaven’s no! We aren’t puppets, we have every right to choose to say or do whatever we wish. But, the choices that bring us joy and satisfaction are the choices that would honor God.
God is Love and God is truth. Because he IS truth – he cannot lie. When you read the Bible you will learn more of him. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and help you to understand as you read. Some things may seem hard to read, you may question – if he is a God of Love, how could he have done some of these cruel things? Remember, the Israelites were just people – they didn’t have Jesus yet and they had God’s law as their salvation. Law isn’t forgiving, you obey or you disobey. In order that God would one day be able to provide Salvation through Jesus, there was a need to keep the blood line from Abraham to Jesus clean, pure.
We are never done growing, never done experiencing life. If you are reading this – then you are still alive! Things are still going to happen to you and to those you love. I’ve talked with the young and old alike, they have basically the same thing to say: “When things are good in life, you may think you don’t need Jesus, but you do-He keeps you grounded so that you don’t misunderstand the grandness of your experience—it’s still a gift from God, remember to praise him for it. When things in life are bad and I mean anywhere between not so good and the worst possible things you could imagine…God will show you a way out. You aren’t experiencing this alone, He’s right there with you each step and when it’s so bad that you can’t take another step - he will pick you up and carry you. When you take time to praise God in the middle of the bad stuff that’s happening, you are simply acknowledging that He is God and reminding yourself that it’s ok to be dependent on him. He already knows, we just need to remember. Does this mean that the bad stuff will stop immediately? No. Sometimes what’s happening doesn’t change, but your attitude toward what’s happening does change. That really does make all the difference.
There’s no promise that life will be WONDERFUL without anything ever going wrong. My goodness, I’ve lived through 2 house fires, my first husband died of cancer and my second husband decided a life of alcohol and drugs was better than living in reality. I’ve been in automobile accidents, even had one blow up. I’ve lost jobs. I’ve even been without a home. But, I’m still standing---and I’m still walking. Scripture tell us to run the race - with perseverance. Sometimes, and I admit lately, I’ve forgotten why I’m running that race and why I’m still standing. It isn’t for my sake. It’s for the sake of those around me who are witnesses as to what God has done and is doing in my life. And it isn’t over yet.
Kathy D
I would be happy to talk with anyone who has questions.