SAVED FROM SINS

The story of the two criminals who were hung along with Christ on Calvary has always been a wonder to my heart. The foolish and the wise criminals (as I choose to call them) represents the two possible outcomes of the work of Christ on the Cross. The unbelievers and the believers.

It is much more surprising to know, if we care to look carefully at this story, that the foolish criminal that railed at Jesus demanding he save himself and them had such knowledge of Christ’s ability to save. He must have heard from the synagogue meetings about the coming of a Messiah, the promised Saviour. His knowledge was further established when he heard how the rulers (who probably may have been his teachers) deriding and mocking Christ about his saving others.

“...The Jewish leaders laughed at Jesus.They said ‘if he is God’s chosen one, the Messiah, let him save himself. He saved others, didn’t he?...”

‘One of the criminals hanging there began to shout insults at Jesus: Aren’t you the Messiah? Then save yourself and save us too!’  (Luke 23:35,39)

Many in the world today have in one way or the other heard about Jesus Christ and his saving grace. Many quite feel the need to be saved from one thing or the other. A rich man who has been diagnosed of having cancer obviously will not see any need of being saved from poverty but a salvation from a sickness that has defied his resources will be most appealing. Many in the churches today are there for many other ‘salvation’ needs other than that for which Christ Jesus came.

“She will give birth to a son. You will name him Jesus. Give him that name because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21 ERV)

Woe, unto that man who cannot or no longer sense his/her need to be saved from sin. Most people who today have heard about Christ’s saving grace but have not come to believe are so simply because they do not sense this need to be saved from their sins. You that have believed and is saved must be careful not to lose the sense of this need. He said unto the Church at Laodecia, mind you, the Church at Laodecia :

“You say you are rich. You think you have become wealthy and don’t need anything. But you don’t know that you are really miserable, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.”
(Revelation 3:17 ERV)
This is a Church that had exchanged the sense of being saved from sin for a sense of being saved from poverty.

The biggest problem any man can have is that of being blind to his real condition. Nothing can be worst than not knowing about the existence of a problem. Not been able to identify the real problem have left men dealing with symptoms rather than the root cause of a problem.

For the foolish criminal, he chose to deal with the symptoms of his problem (seeking a saving from imminent death) rather than dealing with the cause (his wrongdoings). The wise criminal did otherwise.

Where do you belong on this matter? Are you still seeking salvation from the symptoms of sins in your life while yet clinging to that sinful habit of yours. Are you still excusing your little sins saying “It doesn’t really matter.” You need to understand that “...the Lord ’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear. (Isaiah 59:1‭-‬2 NKJV ).

Repent while you still have the chance.Make no excuse for those ‘little sins and faults of yours’. Jesus came to save you from them. Why not let Him in on that matter now!.