Romans 8:1-2
With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah,
that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ’s
being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying
black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ,
like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a
fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
A couple of weeks ago, Greg
went to a nearby restaurant to get take-out dinner for us. Local radar
showed a thunderstorm approaching as he drove out of our neighborhood,
and he got some amazing photographs on his phone of the dark wall cloud
that was nearing our community. Thankfully, all we got from the storm
was some brief gusts of wind, a little lightning and thunder, and LOTS
of rain. But those low-lying black clouds looked ominous and made us
stop and take notice. For those of us in “Tornado Alley,” we know that
“wall clouds” can sometimes spell disaster, so we take them seriously!
Like
low-hanging dark clouds, our sins and the guilt and shame of our past
can often give us pause. And were it not for Jesus, they could indeed
signal disaster. But this is the good news of Romans 8:1-2…that Jesus
finished all of this, once and for all, for those who choose to
surrender their hearts to Him. Like the strong winds of the
thunderstorm - and the rain that followed – Jesus’ death on the cross
cleared the air and washed away our sins forever and ever.
There
is nothing wrong with a healthy respect for the black shelf clouds of
impending thunderstorms. We are wise to keep an eye on the sky when
storms threaten. But when it comes to our faith in Jesus Christ, we
don’t have to keep looking over our shoulder and expecting “gloom and
doom.” All we have to do is call on Him and say, “LORD Jesus, I ask you
to forgive my sins. I admit that I cannot do this on my own, and I
don’t want to live like this any longer. Please come into my heart and
wash me clean, once and for all. I promise to listen for Your voice…to
do what You ask of me and do all I can to leave my sinful ways behind
forever. And I pledge to love You like no other.”
If you
commit your life – and your heart – to Jesus…He will never let go of
you. Aren’t you ready to lift the dark cloud of sin, guilt and shame
and send it packing with the wind? Do you understand that Jesus can do
this for you in the blink of an eye? If you have not asked Jesus to
forgive your sins, don’t you think it’s time you did? Will this be the
day that you step out of the clouds and into the Light?
©2015 Debbie Robus
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