New Year’s Day is past, and many people made many resolutions about things they were going to change in their lives. And now, just a short time later, almost all those good resolutions that were supposed to make them better have been broken. I know from experience; as a young person, I’d make some wonderful resolutions only to fail to keep them. Somehow, I just didn’t have the strength within me to keep them. It’s sad to say it had to do with my fallen nature.
It has to do with two kingdoms: the Kingdom of God – light – and the Kingdom of Satan – darkness. As an infant, I was baptized in mid-January in the local church, and my family attended that church regularly. Being baptized and going to a church doesn’t make one a Christian or a child of God, just like going out to my dairy barn where my cows are doesn’t make me a cow. Any farmer knows that.
I remember many years ago, life looked totally hopeless, and I knew from experience that no good resolutions would change it. Oh, yes, the pastor in our local church told us repeatedly that we were all going to Heaven. But as I sat there and listened to him, I would look down at the floor knowing I was going to Hell. Down in my heart, I knew I was a wicked sinner, and I had no relationship with God at all. I knew the pastor was very wrong about me; he certainly didn’t see my heart.
Looking back now, I see myself back then as a chief of sinners. I couldn’t change myself, even though I tried very hard. I always failed; life looked totally hopeless and empty. I nearly committed suicide. Life at home was terrible, even though we went to the local church every week. People thought our family was a great Christian family; looking at it from the outside, it appeared so. But nothing could be further from the truth.
I was a chief of sinners, but on Jan. 17, 1982, God reached out to me. He moved upon my heart and let me know that He loved me. I had never experienced love like that before in my life. I got down on my knees that day and confessed to God the terrible sins I had committed over the years the best I could and asked Him to forgive me. I then asked Jesus to come into my heart and be my Lord and Savior. I told Him my life wasn’t worth anything, but I was giving it totally to Him. If He could use it in any way for His glory, He could. But at the time, I didn’t see how He could at all.
When I got off my knees that day, I was a new person. I finally stepped over into God’s Kingdom. My horrible sins, all of them, were fully forgiven. I knew right then that if I were to die, I’d go to Heaven to be with my Lord. I was a changed man, not because of a resolution but because of an earnest prayer and a wonderful, loving God.
Sadly, after this, one person in my old family would continually remind me of sins I had committed in the past, to bring me down to his level. All I could tell him was, “Yes, I committed those sins, but God has forgiven me.” With that, he would mumble some words and walk away. I knew I was fully forgiven. The Bible tells us the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all unrighteousness. It also tells us, “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more” (Hebrews 10:17 KJV). I’m so glad that God forgives and forgets all our sins when we truly come to Him.
Needless to say, life has never been the same for me since. He has led and guided me these many years and blessed me above and beyond what I could ask or think. I have to admit that I have failed Him many times, but He always welcomes me back with loving arms when I repent and ask Him for forgiveness. I love Him more than anything or anyone in this world. He is life to me. Jesus even said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10 KJV).
I have a question to ask, “Why didn’t God let me go to Hell? I was in the fast lane going there, so why didn’t He just let me go?” All I can say is that His love is so great for me. And I know His love is the same for you. Even if we are chief of sinners, God’s great love is greater than all of our sin. A New Year’s resolution probably won’t do you much good, but a prayer certainly will. I know.
