"'Come now, let's settle this', says the Lord. 'Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them white as wool.'"
~ Isaiah 1:18 (NLT)
Hey everyone!
I was surfing Facebook today and came across this picture posted on the left. This was a least my 3rd time viewing it and in the past, having formerly shared it with a caption that read "Amen" under it. However, when I came across the picture again today, I had a slightly different reaction. The caption below the picture simply reads "release those bags" and shows a woman dropping baggage as she walks toward the cross. While at first glimpse, this picture can be uplifting, there is also an underlying message that has permeated our generation that is represented in it that says that you have to "get right" become you can become a Christian.
There is a misconception that people should hold off on accepting Christ as their Lord and Savior until they get their life "together". This logic states that people should come to Christ in a state of perfection. However, the truth is that God wants us as we are right now! He loves each and everyone of us and wants to be in communion with us. A high rating on the index of raggedyness (yes, I just created that term, lol!) does NOT disqualify you from being able to have a relationship with Him. He wants the broken. He wants to heal you. God's not in the coping business, meaning that He's not about helping you live with your burdens. He's in the healing business! If you accept Him, your life will never be the same!
Now, let me make it clear that accepting Him into your life doesn't mean that everything will suddenly become peaches and cream, but you will be comforted and healed. Your interests, preferences, and tastes will change for the better (most times without you making those choices consciously). It's not about physically stopping sin, but it's about developing a genuine relationship with the Lord. It's not you that makes that change (to be honest, we can't do it ourselves) but Holy Spirit that's deposited in you leads and facilitates that change. You cannot release the baggage yourself, otherwise, you would have already done it. The Lord allows certain things in our lives (both good and bad) to bring us closer to Him. This means that your healing can only be facilitated by Him. Period. Go to Him and bring everything with you. He can heal you, but after you first acknowledge that you have these burdens and lay them down on the altar of the Lord. He can and will heal you, but first you have to come to Him as you are!
Make the decision today to go to Christ with all that you have: guilt, shame, fear, hurt, etc. Don't try to drop any of your baggage before you get to Him. Accept Him into your life right now and give Him ALL of you. I promise you that it will be the best decision that you will ever make!
I love y'all for free,
nNb ♥
