~ Have You Bought Into This Lie? ~
One
of the basic tenets of modern society is that man is basically good. The conclusion from this belief is
that problems in society will be solved with more education and more money! But this raises questions. Why do the more developed and sophisticated
societies of the world—those with more money and education—have as much bad (God calls it sin) as many
third-world countries? How can this be explained? What is the truth?
America
has a huge industry of self-help books, recordings, and seminars built on pop
psychology with the belief that people can “pull themselves up with their own
bootstraps.” By the way, even the imagery is interesting—have you tried lifting
yourself off the floor by pulling on your shoelaces?
Christians
know that true hope is found not in good politics or good psychology but in
good theology!
The
Bible tells the truth about mankind. Adam and Eve enjoyed fellowship with God,
their Creator. But they both sinned in
the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). They have passed that sin nature on to each of
their descendants making it impossible for any of us to live a sinless (good)
life. If you doubt the truth of our inner sin nature, just ask any parent. Ask
what they did to teach seemingly innocent and good infants to become selfish,
to disobey, to throw a temper tantrum, to display their inner propensity toward
bad (sinful) behavior.
According to the Word of God, even an infant is born with a sin
nature. “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother
conceived me” (Psalm 51:5). The newborn
baby already has a sin nature and begins to demonstrate that sin nature early
in life. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans
3:23). Any parent can confirm this truth!
Because of our propensity towards sinning, God, because of His
holy nature, cannot fellowship with us. But He provides a remedy. In mercy,
love, and grace He provides us a way to have fellowship restored with Him. He
sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to earth as a fully human being to live a
perfect life and to die for our sins. By accepting this provision, our
fellowship with God is restored and we receive eternal life.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world
to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).
~
Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
