As Rachel looked ahead, she saw two paths: a straight path and a crooked path. Rachel had a strange feeling about the crooked path, yet chose to pursue it anyways. As she walked down this path, she found herself heading into a tunnel. The further she walked, the more her curiosity grew. Maybe this won't be so bad, she thought to herself. As she traveled further into the dark tunnel, her heart began to race. Her palms became drenched in sweat as fear began to cloud her mind. Soon, she found herself in complete darkness. As she struggled to find a way out of the darkness, two thoughts kept echoing through her mind: I've gone too far. There's no way out.
Have you ever been in a similar situation like Rachel? Maybe you are in a similar situation right now. We are all imperfect people who make mistakes. Romans 8:23 exclaims, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." We have all missed the mark. Webster's English Dictionary defines the phrase "fall short of" as "to fail to reach." No matter what, each of us fail to reach God's glory. No matter how hard we may try, our efforts will never measure up to God's glory. Despite our imperfections and failures, God continues to love us unconditionally. Sometimes, we make the right choices. Other times, we make wrong choices. Choosing to follow a different path other than the one God wants you to follow can lead you astray and away from God. The further you go, the more consequences you'll face. The further you walk that path, the more you may find yourself distant from God. You may think that you've gone too far, but no matter how far you've gone, you're not too far gone from God. Even when we feel distant from God, He is never distant from us. Even when we are unfaithful to God, He is continually faithful to us. In his song, "Never Too Far Gone," Jordan Feliz shares a powerful reminder that not once will we ever be too far gone from God with these lyrics: There's no distance too far, that I can't reach you. There's no place that's so dark, that I can't find you. Anywhere that you are, if you need proof, Take a look at these scars, and know I love you. Whether a believer or nonbeliever, we are all in need of Jesus. We need his forgiveness. We need his grace. I may not know what your story or struggles are, but I know that no matter what you have done or are doing right now, there is a God who forgives. He can heal and restore you. He can help you get back on track. He can pull you out of the darkness and into the light. No matter what type of bondage you are in, God can set you free. John 8:36 says, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." There is freedom in Jesus! No matter how powerful the grip, every chain can be broken in the name of Jesus. What tremendous power there is in His name! You don't have to wait until you've become a better person to come or return back to God. You can come to Him just the way you are. Come to Him with all your weaknesses, with all your brokenness, with all your failures, and He will turn your life around. Lay your wreckage at His feet, and He can create a beautiful masterpiece out of it. Maybe there have been people in your life who turned their backs on you or gave up on you because of the mistakes you've made. People may turn their backs on you, but God never will. People may give up on you, but God will not. There are always second chances with God. Being a Christian does not make you perfect. Rather, when you stumble and fall, God will never fail to pick you right back up. As a Christian, I have fallen tremendous times, but God never fails to pick me back up over and over again. Maybe you are a nonbeliever reading this who wants to know this Jesus that sets people free. You don't need to complete a list of certain things to be saved. All you need to do is "confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead" (Romans 10:9). Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us, 'it is by grace you have been saved, through faith... not by works, so no man can boast." Receive his salvation today. Run to God, and He will be eager to receive you with arms open wide. No matter who you are, no matter what mistakes you've made, no matter what your past is like, God can use you to do amazing things for His kingdom. He can save you, change you, and redeem you. I can promise you that there is no greater relationship to be in than with the one who gave up his life for you, Jesus Christ. -Johanna
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AuthorHello there! Welcome to my blog! My name's Johanna. I am a Jesus-loving twenty-year-old who also loves to make people laugh, spend time with family, explore the outdoors, and take photos. I hope my blog inspires and encourages you to draw more closer to God and enjoy life more. Remember that you were created for a purpose. You are wonderful. Archives
June 2017
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