As Christmas approaches, I have been thinking a lot about The Gospel. More specifically, its simplicity, its beauty, and its necessity. What is The Gospel? Some would write it off as a list do's and don'ts as a means of scaring the gullible into a religious conversion. Others, like myself, think of it as the only true source of life.
When I look at the world we live in, I am constantly reminded how low life is valued (specifically human life). Life is valued so low, people kill children without a second thought. This is nothing new. This has been a common theme throughout history. From King Herod to Adolf Hitler, this has been a common theme.
We live in a broken world where families are hungry despite an abundance of food. We life in a world where mothers receive a letter informing them that their only son was killed during active duty. We live in a world where everybody is looking out for themselves before looking after their neighbors. Our world is broken. My world is broken.
I was asked the other day why I need to rely on somebody else to make me whole. At the time, I didn't really know what to say. As easy as I see the answer now, at the time my mind drew a blank. I need somebody else to make me whole because I am helplessly broken.
My natural self is selfish, impatient, quick to anger, quick to wrath, and much worse. I return to this state often. In moments of clarity, I realize that Christ came to heal my brokenness. I realize that I am completely reliant on a God who has promised wholeness.
The Gospel is not about what I have done wrong, its about what he has done right. Christ came that we should experience life. Life that is free from our self seeking, hate filled hearts. Christ came that we may experience peace. We experience peace because we realize that he has covered our iniquities.
Redemption isn't about cleaning up our acts and becoming better people, its about Christ giving us a new nature. I speak for myself, when I say that this doesn't happen over night. It is often a grueling process where we will continue to return to this nasty, impatient, selfish mentality. Then a soft voice reminds us that that is not who we are anymore. He reminds us that we have been made new because he decided that he would take the penalty for our transgressions upon himself and wipe our slates clean. Each day we can come to him with the assurance that he has washed us clean.
This is the Gospel that I believe in. This is the reason that I need the Gospel, and this is the reason that the world needs it.
