We all have committed wrong. We all have failed on many accounts. Is it not true?

We are all helpless in our sinful ways. We cannot stop the things that in the end destroy us by the power of our own strength. In fact, we often enjoy those very things. We crave them. We delve into them with relish and lustful anticipation of what is to come forth.

And, when we have completed the act, not long after, we begin to feel the guilt of our action, the weight that pulls us down. We hear the inner voice that criticizes us for failure and calls to us in shame and disgust. It is mocking, laughing, telling us we are not changed, not worthy of forgiveness. And though the voice within lies, we believe it as we are reminded of our desperate situation.

It feels as if we will never get it right. It feels as if we will never be free. It feels as if we cannot be forgiven. We begin to believe that we can never be rescued, never find inner peace, never live in a way that causes no guilt and shame. But that is not true. Our feelings are true deceivers.

Read the words of Romans 5:6-8 ~

“For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die or a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

How wonderful! He knew we could not live up to His standards. He knew we were sinful. He knew our shame and guilt and wrong actions, yet He died for us. Why would He do such a thing?

He did it out of love. Yes, He loves you! He loves everything about you. He believed you were worth dying for. He believed your life was worth rescuing. He believed you were worth knowing, worth investing in, worth giving His life for.

Has anyone else in your life ever been willing to give their life for you? Not when you are at your best, when their heart is full of love, care, and friendship, but when you were at your worst? When you were hateful, angry, and unloving towards others?

It doesn’t matter what you have done. It doesn’t matter where you have failed. It doesn’t matter how far you have strayed, how long you have run, or how far you have drifted. The gospel truth is that God loves you. Jesus died for you. What will you do with that knowledge?

“As Moses lived up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not sent the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been urged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgement, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light,for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.” ~ John 3:14-20, NASB

If you find yourself in need of forgiveness, of a Savior, Jesus Christ is waiting. He is calling to you. He loves you. He died for you. He offers you forgiveness and true life. Ask Him to be your Lord and Savior, to forgive you of the wrongs you’ve committed, and to lead you in. He will not turn you away.