Think of yourself struggling to stay afloat in a body of water - you
are scared and you only know to kick your feet and move your arms in
a fashion which might keep your head above water. . . Then, a life-ring
is tossed to you, and you are suddenly guaranteed of being pulled out
of the water to safety.
I liken the water to sin because, though I can swim, I am afraid of
falling into water, and likewise, I am afraid of falling into sin.
That life-ring is Jesus - God tossed Jesus to the world as a Holy
Life-Ring. He is our Guarantee that we are saved from the depths of sin.
Being "saved" means that we will never be separated from God again.
It means that we have been reconciled to Him by the sacrificial death
of Jesus Christ. We have now entered into a personal relationship with
a God, our loving Father, through Jesus.
By being saved, we are free from the penalty and punishment of sin which
is (spiritual) death and eternal separation from God. We are saved from
the control of the enemy and his plans to destroy us, free from a life
full of fear, guilt, shame and bitterness; free from trying to fill voids
that nothing seems to fill beyond temporary.
I've said it before, and I'll say it until I die: He never said it would
be easy, He just said He'd be there with us. It's difficult, yes, but so
very worth it!
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