Starting Over

Read: Ephesians 2:1-10

If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. --- 2 Corinthians 5:17

The Bible In One Year:
Leviticus 17-18
Matthew 27:27-50

The little boy looked up at his mother and asked, "Mama, do you know why God made us?"

Knowing that her son had his own explanation, she asked, "Well, Justin, do you know why?"

"Oh, that's easy. Because the people in the Bible were so bad, He wanted to start over."

When you think about it, it's easy to see how this first-grader could come up with such a conclusion. When he listens to the Bible stories in Sunday school, he hears about Adam and Eve, who messed things up for all of us. He hears about Jonah, who wouldn't obey God and was swallowed by a big fish. He hears about Judas, who betrayed Jesus for 30 silver coins.

The Bible is painfully realistic in its portrayal of people. It is no whitewashed version of the history of God's people. In its honest presentation of its characters, the Bible proves that we all need to be forgiven of our sins. The "bad" people of the Bible remind us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" [Romans 3:23].

But there's great news. God did provide a way to "start over." He sent Jesus, who died so that we could become new creations [2 Corinthians 5:17]. Trust Jesus and be saved from your sin. Then you will be able to "start over." --- David Branon

The Savior is waiting to save you,
And cleanse every sin-stain away;
By faith you can know full forgiveness
And be a new creature today! --- Bosch

FOR A NEW START, ASK GOD FOR A NEW HEART.