BE FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH

"Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life."  

Revelation 2:10

The apostle John made a profound statement to the church at Smyrna in Revelation 2:10. John’s inspired words to the church at Smyrna must compel Christians to be faithful to God in whatever they do. Sadly, God’s faithful servants are a minority in the church today. We often forget that God commands us to serve Him heartily. God wants us to be faithful unto death to receive our crown of life. Our faithfulness to God demands strong personal commitment.        

"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men."  (Colossians 3:23) 

God wants us to be committed in word and deed (Colossians 1:17). Each Christian must set a goal and strive for personal commitment. Faithfulness to God demands a strong personal choice. Each Christian must choose to be faithful to be blessed by God. God blesses our faithfulness. God blessed the people of Joshua's day because of their faithfulness. Hear the words of Joshua 24:13-15, 

"I have given you a land for which you did not labor, and cities which you did not build, and you dwell in them; you eat of the vineyards and olive groves which you did not plant. Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." 

You see, these people understood the need for personal choice, for they responded by saying, 

"The Lord our God we will serve, and His voice we will obey!" (Joshua 24:24)   

Let us unite our voices with theirs and say, 

"Our God we will serve."

I.   WHY MUST WE BE FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH:

When we are baptized into Christ, we become Christians and begin walking in newness of life. We begin a new life in which we must resolve to set aside or put to death those things that were part of our old way of life, the old man of sin (Romans 6:4; 2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 4:22). As we start crucifying the old man of sin, living and pursuing our new life in Christ, we begin an intimate relationship with our Savior and Lord, walking and following His footsteps. Jesus expects this new man or new creation to be faithful unto death to obtain the reward He promised us, our crown of life (Revelation 2:10). But to be faithful unto death, we must consider some significant steps to Heaven.  

Our church friends teach that once one is saved, he can never be lost, no matter our sins. They ignore and reject God’s exhortation given in Revelation 2:10 to Christians about remaining faithful until the end of our journey here on earth. My question is, Why did Jesus, in His letter to the church at Smyrna, instruct those Christians to “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev. 2:10)? Jesus said to those brethren that if they remained faithful, despite their circumstances, especially persecution, He would give them “the crown of life” (eternal life, synonymous with salvation). God will reward our faithfulness if we remain faithful unto death, even dying for our faith. So why “faithful unto death” if we are already saved and cannot be lost?

 

• Faithfulness to God demands complete obedience:

• Obey:

The Lord wants us to conform and surrender our lives to His will alone (Jas. 4:7). He likewise wants us to walk faithfully with Him, obeying His commands (1 John 1:7; Heb. 5:9; Matt. 7:21).

Jesus said, 

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30) 

Jesus saves those who "obey" Him. The Hebrew writer wrote, 

"Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him." (Hebrews 5:8-9) 

There is no salvation without obedience. Obedience compels people to believe, repent, confess Christ, and be baptized into Christ (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Romans 10:9-10; Romans 6:1-5). We are saved from our past sins and added to the church because of our obedience (Acts 2:47). Only those who obey God have the right to wear the name "Christian." (Acts 11:26)

• Faithfulness to God demands strong commitment and earnestness to put Him first in our hearts and lives:

• Prioritize:

 The Lord wants us to put Christ and His church first and above everything else in our lives (Col. 1:18; Matt. 6:33). He wants us to use the time God gives us to the best of our ability, for the days are evil. So we must be careful how we spend our God-given time here (Eph. 5:16).

God must be above everything else in our lives. It is not enough to obey the Gospel and become a Christian. It is just the beginning of our commitment to living a life devoted to serving God daily. To be His faithful followers, the Lord must be first in our hearts and lives. "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:33) The Macedonians were an excellent example of faithfulness and devotion to God.   "They first gave themselves to the Lord." (2 Corinthians 8:5) God is satisfied only when He has "preeminence" in our hearts and lives.   Paul wrote, "And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence." (Colossians 1:18) Thus, Christians must forsake all and resolve to serve God faithfully. 

"So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple."  (Luke 14:33)

• Faithfulness demands an intense hunger and thirst for God’s Word:  

The Bible must be our "roadmap from earth to heaven." The Word of God is unique and powerful because it is God’s inspired Word.   

"And that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by in­spiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:15-17) 

So, we must study God’s Word diligently, for it is our daily bread to nourish our souls to salvation. Jesus said, 

"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4) 

The Word of God tells us who God is and who we are. It stresses our responsibility toward God.  

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15) 

The right­eous delight in God's Law. 

"Blessed is the man Who walks not in the coun­sel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sin­ners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night." (Psalm 1:1-2) 

The Word of God tells us how to become a Christian, a faithful follower, and live holy and righteously for Him daily. Without feeding on God's Word daily, we won’t grow to maturity and make it to Heaven. Thus, we must study God’s Word daily and diligently to be approved by Him and receive our crown of life.  

• Teach:

The Lord wants us to grow in our knowledge and understanding of God’s Word (the Gospel) to show and teach others the way to Heaven (Mark 16:15). He wants us to grow in His Word to live a faithful life and show others how to live holy lives that would honor Him. He also wants us to grow in His Word to answer those who are not in Christ their questions concerning His Kingdom and His righteousness (Matt. 5:16; 1 Pet. 3:15).

• Faithfulness to God demands strong self-discipline: 

"Discipline" is mostly forgotten and neglected in the church today. There is minimal church discipline and self-discipline among many followers of Christ. Self-discipline must be learned and practiced. Paul wrote, 

"For this is the will of God, your sanctifi­cation: that you should abstain from sexual im­morality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified." (1 Thessalonians 4:3-6) 

Christians must not walk “according to the flesh, but according to the spirit." (Romans 8:1) Paul spoke of self-discipline, saying, 

"But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified." (1 Corinthians 9:27) 

Faithful and godly living demands discipline.

• Separate:

The Lord wants Christians to set themselves apart from the ways of the world (Rom. 12:2; 1 Pet. 2:11). He wants us to keep ourselves pure and live godly lives (1 Pet. 1:15-16; 1 John 2:15-17; Tit. 2:11-12).

• Faithfulness to God requires strong and devoted service to Him: 

• Serve:

The Lord wants us to look and think beyond ourselves (Phil. 2:3-4). He also wants us to seek opportunities to serve others from the heart and to do good to them (Gal. 5:13; Gal. 6:10). When we serve others with a loving heart, we also serve the Lord Himself (Col. 3:24; Rom. 12:10-11).

Christians must always be seeking opportuni­ties to serve. Often, these opportunities are right before our eyes. Paul declared, 

"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith." (Galatians 6:10) 

Jesus served others and commanded us to follow His example of servitude. He said, 

"And the King will answer and say to them, Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." (Matthew 25:40) 

We confess our faith and our service to our Lord with our actions. Our faith must have works of righteousness. Our faith, that is, our faithfulness, must be shown not just on Sunday morning but daily. Our service to Him demonstrates our faithfulness to God. James wrote, 

"Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."  (James 1:27)  

Each Christian must seek opportunities to serve God daily, remembering that even a "cup of cold water" given as an act of service or in the name of a disciple will have its reward (Matthew 10:42).

• Work:

Faithfulness to God demands hard work. The Lord wants us to be busy in His kingdom, remaining steadfast and bearing abundant fruit to His glory (1 Cor. 3:9).

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (1 Cor. 15:58)

• Faithfulness to God demands constant and strong spiritual growth (maturity): 

• Grow:

The Lord wants us to increase and develop our knowledge, faith, and trust in Him (2 Pet. 1:5-11; 3:18). But to grow in these areas, we must first study His Word and pray daily (2 Tim. 2:15; Col. 4:2).

Peter declared,  

"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen."  (2 Peter 3:18) 

Christians must grow to be able to discern between good and evil. 

"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (Hebrews 5:12-14) 

Spiri­tual growth must compel us to set our minds and hearts on things above this world. And though we still live in this world, Christ’s faithful followers must acknowledge that we are not of the world, for we must live for Christ alone. Jesus declared, 

“My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here." (John 18:36)

 

Matthew records God's plan for spiritual growth in Matthew 16:24. 

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." 

Thus, Christians must set their mind on things above, not the things of this earth (Colossians 3:1).

• Faithfulness to God demands Worship And Praise:

• Worship:

The Lord wants us to worship and praise Him from our hearts (John 4:24; Matt. 4:10; Heb. 13:15; Eph. 5:19), especially on the first day of each week (Acts 20:7; Heb. 10:25).

• Faithfulness to God demands Endurance:

• Endure: 

The Lord wants Christians to persevere through their difficult times. We must look to Him as our example for strength (2 Tim. 2:3; Heb. 12:1-3). He wants us also to press on and finish our race well to reach our eternal goal of Heaven (Phil. 3:14).

In Matthew, Jesus is quoted twice saying, 

“But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” (Matt. 10:22; 24:13) 

Mark recorded that same statement (Mk. 13:13). Jesus stressed the need to live a life of endurance to the end (being patient and faithful). Moreover,  Luke recorded Jesus saying, 

“By your patience possess your souls.” (Lk. 21:19) 

So, if saved followers of Jesus cannot be lost, why did Jesus stress so much the need for patient faithfulness to obtain eternal life?

James also had this same sentiment when he wrote along this line: 

“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” (Jas. 1:12)  

James’ message matches those stated above. James wrote to Christians when he referred to them as “My brethren” (1:1; 2:1; 3:1). The “man who endures temptation” is a brother or sister in Christ who endures faithfully to the end, without succumbing to whatever temptations the devil throws at them. We will receive the crown of life at the end of our lives if we endure faithfully.   That same primary thought is expressed in Jas. 1:25. Christians must continue to live by the Gospel of Christ and not be just hearers but doers of God’s Word to be blessed.  

“But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.”

• Aim:

The Lord wants us to fix our eyes on the glorious reward of Heaven (Matt. 6:20; Col. 3:1-4). As we fix our eyes on our glorious reward of Heaven, we will find joy and hope, anticipating Jesus’ return to take us His children home with Him forever (Phil. 3:20-21; Tit. 2:13).

God commands us to “be faithful,” that is, true to Him, His Word, and His church, seeking and pleasing Him above all else!  

CONCLUSION:

The Book of Revelation was written during the reign of the Roman Emperor, Domitian. He persecuted the church for about 10 years after Nero. The church was under extreme distress because of the persecution they had to endure. The persecution included the slaughter of thousands of Christians, even the apostle John himself, who was exiled to the Island of Patmos. While John was on that island, he wrote, 

"I was in the spirit on the Lord's Day."  

John saw some marvelous visions or revelations he shared with the brethren who were being persecuted to give them the hope of eternal life.  

The church in Smyrna was a group of suffering Christians and was one of only two churches the Lord had nothing bad to say against. Some of these persecuted brethren suffered imprisonment and poverty. Domitian, the Roman Emperor of that time, had thousands of Christians killed because they confessed their faith in Jesus Christ.  

The Lord spoke through John, urging these brethren to "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." (Revelation 2:10)

The Lord knew the works and tribulations of the church in Smyrna. He knew they were suffering and enduring saints. Our Lord knows our fears, infirmities, and the trials we face because He experienced the same thing at the hands of Satan. He had been there! (Hebrews 4:15)

The Lord tells them to "be faithful unto death." And He will give them "a crown of life."

We must acknowledge that though this letter was written to them, we can still apply those same principles to our lives. What will happen if we aren't faithful unto death? There will not be a crown of life for us!

In Roman culture, this crown of life, the Stephanos Crown of Life, represented the Crown of Victory. They understood what He meant. The Lord wants us to not only be suffering saints but enduring saints. He gave these brethren hope and gives us that same hope today. He declared that those who overcome shall not be hurt by the second death. Suffering saints who endure win! Those suffering and enduring saints who overcome until the end will not gain just a crown but will go to Heaven forever.

How do we endure? By having our sins washed away. God washes away sin from our metaphysical body. He adds us to His church, and we become Christians. When Christians are faithful unto death, we overcome and receive a crown of life. Thus, we must continue being steadfast and faithful unto death. It is the only road to victory! Faithfulness to God is not just showing up and warming a pew on Sunday. Faithfulness is obedient faith that dies to sin and walks in newness of life. Since we are baptized into Jesus’ death, we must repent of sins and die to sins. Our dead body of sin must be buried. We are buried in water baptism so that our souls can come in contact with the blood of Jesus. God requires obedience to save us from the death of sin.  

“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”  (Romans 6:1-4)

In Peter’s second letter, he gives the same instruction. By the way, Peter is writing to Christians, “those who have obtained like precious faith with us…” (2 Pet. 1:1). He instructs these Christians, saying, 

“Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election (their eternal salvation) sure….” 

He goes on to say, 

“For so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Pet. 1:10-11)  

The phrase “for so” means “as a result of.”  You see, the diligent faithfulness of these Christians would result in their being given a home in Heaven.  

Someone might ask, 

What of John, writing about a brother in Christ committing a sin “leading to death” (1 Jn. 5:16)? 

Do you remember what John stated earlier? He stated, 

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 Jn. 1:9)  

Here, the word “if” is conditional.  

What if a Christian, having sinned, does not confess his sins?  

Paul declared, 

“For the wages of sin is death…” (Rom. 6:23).

Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, has also warned us to be sober and vigilant, 

“Because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1 Pet. 5:8)  

 

But how can the devil “devour” a saved Christian if that Christian cannot be lost once he is saved?  

The warning is that a Christian can lose his/her salvation if they do not remain diligently faithful. That is why Jesus stressed to be  “faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Rev. 2:10)  

In Hebrews 12:1, we are admonished to run our race of faith with endurance. God expects us to run this race to the end (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). Baptism is the beginning of a life lived in faithfulness or loyalty. We know and believe that God is and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). We also believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (John 20:30, 31). We believe that salvation from sin is available to men by the power of the Gospel (Romans 1:16).

Because of the preaching of the Gospel, we believe our faithfulness must become the most vital and abiding pursuit of our lives. We must love God above any person or thing.   Consider the words of Jesus to the church in Smyrna: 

“Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10) 

The context of this statement shows that our faithfulness is a matter of life or death.  

Therefore, each Christian must resolve to remain faithful to God until death despite persecution and death. We must also examine our faith and evaluate everything we have been taught, every aspect of our lives to be approved by God. We must believe that God has prepared a home for the faithful and that a crown awaits those who finish the race well. Faithfulness to God is vital to running the race set before us to the end. God provides the strength to endure, get up, and keep running. Because of God’s love and sacrifice, we can live in faithfulness to Him despite Satan’s most horrifying taunts or enticing allurements, and we must if we want to receive our crown and go to Heaven.

The crown of life makes it all worth it! 

May we remain faithful to the very end, keeping our focus on the crown of life and Heaven. May we always remember that this world is not our home and that we are just passing through. May we set our minds on things above (Col. 3:2). May we keep our eyes upon Heaven, for one day, all who are in Christ will be glorified with Him for all eternity!

~Luci

THE BEAUTY OF A BROKEN SPIRIT

"For thou delightest not in sacrifice; else would I give it:  Thou hast no pleasure in burnt-offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit:  A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise."   

Psalm 51:16-17

Jesus, our Lord and Savior, invites all broken and lost souls to come to Him for help and rest from the burden of sin.  He wants those lost souls to bring their brokenness to Him for healing.  Christ, our Savior, can make broken souls anew. Though marred by sin, they become whole again.  He can restore our broken lives and the empty and wasted years of sin.  When we obey His Gospel, our Lord removes our iniquities and remembers them no more.  When we obey the remedy for sin that He offers and are buried with Him in baptism, He creates us anew.  It is then that we start walking in the newness of life.

"Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."  (Romans 6:3-4)  

Our wasted life He will restore, justified before God.

"And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."  (1 Cor. 6:11)

In Christ, God has promised to remember our iniquities no more.

"But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second.  8 For he finds fault with them when he says:  'Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 9 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt.  For they did not continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord.  10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord:  I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  11 And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.  12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.'"  (Hebrews 8:6-12)  

When we bring our broken hearts by sin to Christ, we find rest because Jesus purifies them from an evil conscience (Heb. 10:19-22).  Jesus can give us rest from the burden of sin and take us to heaven when we surrender our brokenness to Him (Matt. 11:28-30).  Jesus Christ came to earth as our blest Savior (Matt. 1:21).  He has promised His redeemed to be with them until the end (Matt. 28:19-20).  He is now preparing a home in His Father’s house for all those broken souls marred by sin who humbly come to Him to be forgiven (John 14:1-3).  

It is so amazing to see a new Christian arise from the watery grave of baptism, buried with Christ as they humbly bring their broken lives and brokenness of soul to Him to be restored and made anew!

I.   SIN AND BROKENNESS:

We live in a world of broken people.  Our broken world has been around since the beginning of mankind when sin entered this world.  Before Jesus was born, God spoke through the prophet Jeremiah of His people as being “broken.”  Listen to His words.

“They have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, Saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ but there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14; 8:11). 

• Sin:

Sin is the cause of our broken world.  When people ignore and refuse to listen to God’s instructions, that course of action will lead them to brokenness in their lives and the lives of others.  Our lives will break down when we live contrary to our Creator’s direction. Such “brokenness” is seen throughout the Scriptures.  

“For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our time in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another” (Titus 3:3).

“Being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful” (Romans 1:29-31).

“Everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin” (John 8:34).

Sadly, many people are deceived, believing they can ignore God and His instruction and still remain whole, good, and put together.  They expect to function well in life while living the broken life of sin.  Consider the following Scripture that describes how hostility toward God results in “evil deeds.” 

“And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds” (Colossians 1:21). 

Their hostility toward God affects them.  Their wrong attitude is against God.  Jesus stressed the commands to love God with all our hearts and our neighbor as ourselves. The two commands are inseparable (Matthew 22:37-39).  Let us not deceive ourselves! Can we remove God from our lives and continue to love people as we should? 

When people depart from God, choosing to ignore His will, they are in trouble.  And once they get in trouble, they often get their loved ones to cover for them.  The truth is that when we involve others in our sins, that shows we only care about ourselves.  We are concerned only about ourselves and are willing to throw everyone else underneath the bus. This course of action shows a lack of humility and repentance:  a lack of brokenness of heart.

1. Sin is indeed ugly and harsh.  
2. Sin will take a toll on our compassion and love, and defile our conscience (Jeremiah 6:15) and our relationships. 
3. Our honesty disappears (John 3:10-21), and 
4. Our self-control goes out the window along with our view of reality (2 Thess. 2:10-12).  

Notice what Jeremiah declared.

“For My people have committed two evils; they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hewn for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water” (Jeremiah 2:13).

When we forsake God, we find a replacement.  God is the source of all true refreshment and living waters.  Those who forsook God, according to Jeremiah, tried to dig and create their own source of refreshment.  The problem is that such a carnally devised source cannot hold water.  It is cracked and cannot quench the human thirst for real and lasting peace, happiness and meaning. It only works for a short time.

The Bible tells us that sin is sin and that sin must never be considered "right" or "excusable." All sin is simply sin. We all have sinned, and some more than others. One of the hardest things for us is confronting just how bad our sins are before our Holy God and truly weep for them (godly sorrow). God is not interested in empty apologies, rationalizations, explanations, or excuses to defend or justify sin.  

1. We cannot fool God, even though we might fool ourselves and others for a while.  
2. We must recognize and accept that God demands truth, honesty, and integrity of heart.  
3. Our spirit within us must be crushed by guilt, leaving us with genuine and deep sorrow because we have been rebellious and sinful before our  God.  
4. We must resolve to humbly repent with a contrite and broken heart that does not seek to rationalize, defend and justify our sins.  
5. We must not blame our circumstances, others, or even God for our failures, rebellions, or sins. 

Our sins will find us out!  

We must regard our sins, iniquities, and transgressions with a contrite or broken heart.  Our God will not accept empty apologies, cheap promises, or resolutions to justify our sins.  He wants our broken and contrite hearts.   

The guilt of sin weighs heavily on man’s heart, soul, and mind.  It covers the soul with deep sadness, profound grief, and tormenting pain. Some sins bring a heavier weight to the soul than others.  It is a deep pain that almost everyone has felt in his life as he tries to serve God faithfully. Sin in our life is the transgression of God's will and rebellion against Him.   

1. It is thoroughly evil from top to bottom.  
2. It opposes all that God is, His purposes, His love, and His Grace.  
3. Sin is hopelessly corrupt, filthy, and contaminating.  
4. It produces guilt, shame, and filthiness.  
5. Sin is falsehood and is the antithesis of Truth.  
6. It reduces man to a puppet in the hands of Satan.  
7. It crushes those who indulge in it.   
8. It separates man from God.  
9. Sin can numb the conscience and blind our understanding.  
10. Sin enslaves us by piling on more and more sin until the soul is fully absorbed.  

Only when sinners surrender to God with a broken or contrite heart (godly sorrow) can they be forgiven and cleansed by God's Grace.  

Thanks be to our merciful and loving God who delivers us from wrath through His Son Jesus, our Lord, and from the grave of sin and guilt!!  Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!!

• What Is Brokenness?

Have you ever broken something valuable to you or your loved ones?  Did you ever break one of your mother’s favorite vases or figurines?  Did you try to glue it back together?  I surely did and got in trouble quite a few times!  When things get broken, we often think of them as worthless and useless.  We believe they are not worthy of keeping any longer.   So we get rid of them right away.  Why not take a closer look at what brokenness is?

Often, our character or bad experiences make us feel broken.  Sadly, we allow those negative feelings or life’s circumstances to define us.  We let them rule our spiritual lives to our detriment. It would be good and wise to consider God’s viewpoint of broken people to help us change our way of thinking. After all, the Bible does say that brokenness is a good spiritual quality to have.  

In countries like Japan, broken things are often repaired with gold. They restore the broken part with gold mixed with epoxy.  Their purpose is not just to replace the damaged piece but to convey awe, reverence, and restoration. The flaw in the broken vessel is seen as a unique piece of the object’s history, which adds to its beauty. The gold-filled cracks are a testament to its history.  Such a history is critical to embrace.  Why?  Because just like those once broken objects, we humans have a history that God, our Creator, can use for His glory. 

In Japanese culture, “it’s very important that we understand the spiritual backgrounds or the history behind… the material.”

The Japanese people set aside the sad stories that show how difficult it was to recover from devastation, betrayals, and losses.  The stories tend to cling to misfortune and imply that they are “damaged goods,” not worthy of love, recognition, or success.  Like the Japanese people, do you have a story or life event that you cannot recover from?  Has betrayal, loss of family, and loved ones brought you down so much that it prevents you from getting closer to God?  Sadly, many people think of themselves as damaged goods and worthless.  Their state of mind affects their growth and restoration with God.  We often hear that the church is for people who cannot get it together, losers, and those who need help.  Let us consider a few things, such as gold and epoxy used to restore broken objects.

• Gold and Epoxy:

So what does the gold in our story represent to us?  

Well, the gold is God’s love, God’s forgiveness, an opportunity to know Him and thus be restored and transformed.  

What does the epoxy represent to us? 

The epoxy is Jesus, Jesus’ life and teachings, and, more importantly, Jesus on the cross.

Now let us think for a moment and try to put it all together.  

1. God puts us back together with Himself (gold) and Jesus.  
2. When God fixes us, we are given a strong bond.  
3. This bond now makes us whole, better, and more beautiful before God.  
4. Psalm 51 explains David’s brokenness after God rebuked him for his sin.  David was broken with godly sorrow, which showed true repentance before God. 

Notice what Psalm 51:17 declares about David’s brokenness of heart.   

“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.”

God does not despise our brokenness. It pleases Him.  God delights in those who want to be changed, who want the damage of sin repaired. He wants to heal us from our brokenness, for He desires to mend us and make us whole.  His arms are wide open to welcome those who wish to make a comeback to rebuild their lives destroyed by sin.  You see, broken pieces are stronger and better.  God repairs and uses damaged and broken people to do amazing things! 

• “A Broken And Contrite Heart"   (Psalm 51:16-17)

“For thou delightest not in sacrifice; else would I give it:  Thou hast no pleasure in burnt-offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit:  A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”

This is the very essence of what God wants.  God wants our hearts and not our sacrifices.  He wants contrite and sincere hearts that will listen to Him.  An honest heart seeks His approval, for such a heart wants to do His will.   Such a heart is willing to surrender to God's will.  Our worship to God is useless if our hearts are not broken over our sins.  Our good works are meaningless if we do not have a broken and contrite heart toward God.  All that we do in word and deed must come from the love of our hearts. Otherwise, it will be despised.  God will only delight in us when our heart is humble and devoted to Him.  Even under the Law of Moses, God demanded sacrifices that arise from hearts obedient to Him.  

God wants a broken and contrite spirit.  He will welcome such a heart and rejoice over it.  A broken heart surrenders and accepts responsibility for his sins. Such a heart destroys his strong will and allows God to rule it.  It does not become calloused by sin.  A broken heart admits his sins and is sorrowful, desiring to change and be in fellowship with God.  A broken heart does not allow guilt to eat him away but longs to do God's will.   The broken heart accepts responsibility for his sins, for it has godly sorrow.  A contrite heart is poor in spirit and is fully aware of its need for God's approval.  A broken heart submits to God and His rule.  Our hearts must break with sorrow when we sin.  God will respond to our brokenness with Grace when we humbly confess our sins and surrender to His will.  A contrite heart accepts that change must happen, deep repentance.  The Grace of God will only save the brokenhearted and poor in spirit.

Sinners must be heartbroken over their sins.  They must grieve for defying God. God cannot extend His Grace if there is no deep concern or sorrow over  sin. There must be a desire to turn away from sin to walk in newness of life.   Sinners must accept God’s terms of Grace.  When they do, they will be ready to have a new heart, a new joy, and a renewed fellowship with Him.  God’s righteous and holy standards must rule their new life.  The redeemed must then pass God's most magnificent gift of love to others by sharing the Gospel, the Good News, to others who are broken because of sin.

• What is godly sorrow?  

Godly sorrow does not come from endless human therapy, human theology, or self-help principles.  Through the Gospel, God calls men to find the remedy for their sinful way of living.  God uses the Gospel to return the hearts of men to Him.   Paul declared, 

"For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death."  (II Cor. 7:10)

In 2 Corinthians 7:-8-9,  Paul stated, 

"For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it—for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while—  I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us."  

Paul declared that he did not regret hurting the church by preaching repentance, even though it broke his heart.  Though the message brought guilt because of sin and the church was broken, they turned from their sin, drawing closer to the Lord.  It was God's will for them to be broken in their sin through the knowledge of His Word.  This sound knowledge of sin produced godly sorrow that moved them to a deeper surrender to their Father in heaven.

On the other hand, worldly sorrow is a cruel thing.  It is guilt without hope.  One can have sincere remorse for offending God and others, but not to the point of repenting and changing his life completely.  Such a person is only sorry because he got caught in sin.  True repentance does not take place with someone unwilling to repent and turn from his sins and completely surrender to the will of God.  So I ask you, can the sinner's prayer for forgiveness save a man if he is not willing to repent of his sins, be renewed, and be transformed by the everlasting TRUTH?  Worldly sorrow can’t produce genuine repentance that transforms and regenerates the character or heart of man.  If man is not willing to surrender from the heart completely to the Lord, he is wasting his time because worldly sorrow can only produce eternal death.  It renders man hopeless.

For a person to come to know godly sorrow, he must humbly see himself as totally lost: lost because of sin and undone without God in his life.  He must feel sin-sick before seeking the Great Physician who offers the remedy that can heal him.  This attitude of heart is vital to receiving pardon.  

1. Sinners must be aware of their spiritual poverty.  
2. They must accept their slavery to sin before they can have the hope found in Jesus that restores thier broken souls.  
3. They must be thirsty for righteousness and willing to take up Christ's sweet and easy yoke.
4. They must feel cast down because of theirs sins before looking for a Savior to redeem them.  

This godly sorrow zeros in on the root of the problem called sin.  Godly sorrow regenerates a broken heart into a righteous and holy one.  

II.  OUR NEED FOR A SAVIOR:

“He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” (John 1:11–16)

Jesus came to all who would receive Him.  He gave them the right to become children of God, receiving Grace on top of Grace.  Our Lord came to gather the outcasts and the broken (John 3:181-9).  God has compassion for all the broken people in the world.  God did not come to us with harshness. Remember the prophecy of Isaiah regarding the arrival of Jesus.

“A bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench” (Isaiah 42:3). 

Jesus came to restore us from our brokenness. He came to gather the broken to Himself.  God receives the broken.  He will restore them. Jesus has come, and it is Grace upon Grace to us. He takes away our shame and gives us peace and rest with Him.  

1. Why did Jesus die on the cross?  
2. Was there another way? 
3. What is God’s plan for us? 
4. What does God expect from us? 
5. Why did He give us the Bible? 
6. Why does He want us to obey everything in it? 
7. Does God want us to live a righteous life to go to heaven?  
8. Or can we live a good moral life and go to heaven?  
9. Is there more than that? 

Indeed, these questions deserve worthy answers.  Such answers focus on our need for a Savior.  

“Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He *said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”  (Matthew 9:36-38)

Jesus was heartbroken for the lost. 

1. Are you heartbroken for the lost? 
2. Do you look on them with eyes of compassion as our Savior did? 

We're given the greatest gift ever.  But often, we stop short of doing anything with it!  Satan whispers,

"They don’t want to hear the good news...they wouldn’t accept the gift even if you tried."

That is so sad!  People need the Lord and the remedy for sin found in His Gospel.   And while it’s on them if they accept Christ’s terms of redemption, we must still share Jesus and be His light in this world of darkness. Thus we must share the Gospel with the lost to save them from the wrath of God.

• Why the Bible? 

It is a common question. Some are so bold as to say that God in His Word never intended to keep us from doing whatever we enjoy. Nevertheless, God made it clear in Deuteronomy 10:12-13, that His laws were given for their good. It is like when you buy a car, they give you an owner’s manual full of things to do and not to do. Its purpose is not to restrict you, but to give you the best possible use and benefit from the car. The Bible is our God-given owner’s manual to teach us how to get the most out of life by walking in righteousness and holiness and at the end of life to pass on to your eternal reward. 

The main reason God gave us the Bible is to help us become like Him so that we can live with Him. God made us because He wants us to live with Him. God has done everything possible to make living with Him possible.  Notice what Paul declares in Titus 1:1-3.

“Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that is in accordance with godliness, in the hope of eternal life that God, who never lies, promised before the ages began 3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior.” 

If we do what God commands, we will be like God, we will walk with God like Enoch, and at the end of our journey, we will find ourselves with God in heaven. 

God wants us to be like Him.  In Matthew 5:48, Jesus emphasizes this with statements such as “even as” or “just as” to show us how we must live to be like the Father.  

“Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” 

In this case, “perfect” refers to our goal of maturity, the image of Christ that we strive to imitate.

John 13:34, Jesus declared,

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” 

Ephesians 4:32, Paul said, 

“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.”

 

1 John 2:6,

“He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”

We must live like God to be in His likeness.  However, there is one big problem: 

1. We do not always live like God. 
2. We have not kept His Law. 
3. We have sinned.  
4. We have violated God’s Law (“Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.” –1 John 3:4).  
5. Romans 3:23 tells us that all have sinned.  
6. Romans 3:9-10 declares that there is none righteous, not even one.

So what is the result of our sins?  

1. We cannot live with God while we live in sin.  
2. God will not have us in heaven with Him while we walk in sin. 

Romans 6:23 defines the consequences of sin.   

“The wages of sin is death.” 

Death is separation from God. 

In Isaiah 59:1-2, we read,

“Behold, 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.”

It does not matter how many times we have sinned or how “bad” our sins have been. Even one sin can separate us from God and make us unable to live with Him.  In Luke 7:41-42, Jesus told a parable to a Pharisee who thought he was saved because he had sinned far less than a sinful woman who was also in Jesus’ presence.  In the parable, Jesus showed how the Pharisee was in the same condition as the sinful woman.  And though his sins might have been fewer compared to the sins of this woman,  he still could not pay the penalty for his sins any more than this woman could. Thus, we are all in the same boat: lost and unable to get out of our sinful condition by our good moral works.  We need a Savior to rescue us from our sins!  We need Jesus’ blood to cleanse us from our sins and thus restore us to our Father in heaven.

We must stress that no one will be saved because they may have lived a good moral life, for we need our Savior’s blood to wash away our sins.  A good moral life will not do it. We cannot make up for our sins by being good, even sinning once.  Let me explain.  

In Acts 10:2, we read of a man named Cornelius who was “devout, feared God with his whole house, gave much money to the poor, and prayed to God always.”  Yet Cornelius was lost because he had not done what the Lord required to obtain forgiveness.  He had to wash away his sins to be forgiven and restored to God.   

• God’s Remedy to Sin:

Here is where the love of God and the Grace of God comes in. God made us with a specific purpose: to live with Him. And though our world is broken and is lost in sin, God does not want us to stay in that condition. So how does God provide forgiveness? 

Consider the two statements of the Great Commission found in Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:15-16.

“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

“And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”

God saves people by making them disciples of Jesus’ teachings and providing salvation according to those teachings when they repent of their old ways of thinking and living and are baptized in water for the remission of their sins. In the Gospel of John chapter 3, he compared it to a new birth that begins with the water of baptism and continues with the teachings of the Holy Spirit that transform us by the renewing of the mind. Romans 6:3-18; 8:5-11; 12:1-2; Colossians 1:21-29; 2:1-5.

So, how do we remain forgiven after we are baptized? The beauty of the Gospel is that once we are in Christ, we can continue to have forgiveness of sins when we obey God and confess our sins to Him.

How do we obtain forgiveness after we have been saved? John gives us the answer in 1 John 1:7-2:5,

“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.’” 

There is no better picture of God's Grace and what He can do with our sins.   God forgives, cleanses, and blots out our sins.  God removes our sins and erases them from His record.  This is how God deals with our sins through the fullness of His redemption, the thoroughness of His cleansing.  When God forgives us, He justifies us (Romans 3:24).  This justification requires godly sorrow, a deep understanding of what our sins have done to God.  Godly sorrow or brokenness declares, “my sins are first against God and second against men and finally against myself.”  Since God is righteous and holy, any sin is against Him.  

1. My sins hurt God, others and, of course, myself.  
2. My sins separate me from God and corrupt my relationship with those around me.  
3. My sins cannot be excused, rationalized, or blamed on others or circumstances.  

Since no one can forgive himself of sin's stain and guilt, God must do it.  So we must approach Him on His own terms to find forgiveness or pardon.  Sin must be dealt with in God's way for true peace and reconciliation to happen.  Then we can then sing again because God has pardoned us.  We must face our sinfulness with brokenness and lay our sins at God's feet.  Remember, sin stands between God and us, between our joy and our righteousness.  Nothing can remove our sins except God's Grace, the precious blood of His Son.  Only when we bring our brokenness and transgression to God, do we find the forgiveness our hearts crave.

God forgives, cleanses, and blots out our sins.  God removes our sins and erases them from His record.  This is how God deals with our sins through the fulness of His redemption, the thoroughness of His cleansing.  When God forgives us, He justifies us (Romans 3:24).  Without understanding how grave our sins truly are (godly sorrow), it is impossible to have that poverty of spirit, brokenness.  There won't be any Grace for us until we are poor in spirit and broken because of our sins.  It will be impossible to grasp Christ's glory and His riches toward us until we understand our deadness, blindness, and brokenness due to sin.  In brokenness, we become aware of our sinfulness.  One must be broken before God to have God's mercy and lovingkindness (Grace). When we acknowledge our brokenness, we benefit from His power that can transform our lives into righteousness.  God will only forgive the broken heart, the godly sorrowful, who accepts his sinful condition before Him.  He is willing to repent because he feels broken and wants to be forgiven.  Such a heart seeks to humbly serve and bless others who are also broken because of sin. 

Thus we must empty ourselves to be filled with God's righteousness.  The brokenhearted are sorrowful and make changes.  

1. So, will you come to Jesus our Lord with a broken and contrite heart, confessing your sins so that He may cleanse your heart?  
2. Will you allow Jesus to transform your life? 
3. Are you willing to experience the salvation that He and only He can provide?  
4. Why not turn to God for refuge?  
5. Why not refuse the urge to be self-sufficient and independent, for you need a Savior to save you from your broken life?!  
6. Since your ways of living have failed, why not seek God’s ways and receive salvation and Grace?  

Don't let Satan immobilize you because of your guilt, for he wants you to give up before you are restored to a relationship with God.  Remember, God can blot out your transgressions and continue His unfailing love toward you and me only when we confess our sins to Him with complete brokenness and poverty of spirit.

CONCLUSION:

Indeed, we live in a world of broken people hurt by sin.  Some are willing to change, thus repenting from their sinful ways.  They acknowledge that God is the only real answer for their brokenness. Our gracious God can help us put our lives back together.  He is willing to mend and restore our broken lives.  God will never despise a broken and contrite heart.  He delights in those who admit how broken they are.  He will help them (Psalm 51:17; Isaiah 61:1; 66:2; 57:15).

Is it not marvelous how God responds to our brokenness, the brokenness caused by our sins!  It is an extension of His Grace and lovingkindness. God responds to our brokenness when we are humble of heart.  He is well pleased.  But He rejects the haughty spirit—the humble heart yielding to God's will. A broken man weeps bitterly over his sins and repents before his God, for he recognizes his spiritual poverty.  He humbly confesses his need for God’s mercy, God’s forgiveness, and His Grace.   In the spirit of brokenness, the poor in spirit surrenders to the need for righteousness and obedience.  The broken heart stands before God without any pretense, for he strips himself of self-sufficiency, self-security, and self-righteousness.  The broken and poor spirit will humbly admit that he has sinned against his Lord and thus is not worthy of being God's son in His kingdom.   We cannot enter heaven any other way.  God demands that a man’s heart be broken, and his spirit humbled before he may enter His heavenly kingdom.

Lack of surrender to God is merely the result of a selfish heart.  Our selfishness robs us of the power of the Gospel to transform our lives.  Our pride and self-sufficiency must be broken, and our love for sin surrendered.  God wants the broken to know the depth of their sins and the need for a Savior to rescue them from their desperate spiritual poverty.  Only the poor in spirit will allow Jesus our Lord to rule their hearts.  Those who are brokenhearted will heed the Gospel Message, the good news, to set them free from the slavery of sin.  God's Grace will not benefit us unless we accept and grasp the enormity of our guilt, that is, our brokenness, before a righteous and holy God.  The brokenhearted grow in the awareness of their sins and plead to God for mercy.  The brokenhearted seek to be pure in heart and do not question the efficacy of the Law of Christ.  They do not argue with demands implied by that message.  

In Psalm 51, David teaches us to acknowledge our sin and its guilty stain. He also shows us the remedy for sin: restoring our soul to God.   King David repented of his adultery with Bathsheba when his pride and self-will were finally broken.  When he confronted the ugliness of the evil he had committed in the presence of a Holy God, David realized that he had to lay aside all pride and rebellion.  His guilt and repentance brought David back into a relationship with God.  David’s moving phrase in Psalm 51, "Create in me a clean heart, O God," reflects an earnest desire from a broken heart that wishes to repent and to be restored to God.  It portrays the height of God’s Grace and genuine repentance (godly sorrow, brokenness).  

But, salvation is presented as conditional, for God's Word declares that one must acknowledge his sin, turn away from it with godly sorrow, accept the responsibility and come to God for fellowship.  However, there must be a full intent of returning to God so that He may run to meet us.  One must choose to repent and turn from all evil and lawlessness to walk in righteousness.  This moving Psalm gives hope to the broken sinner.  It is the picture of the prodigal son in Luke 15 where we see on parade: full repentance, grace, complete forgiveness, full restoration from the depths of sin, and the indescribable hope in God for the hopeless.  As we read David's pleadings, we notice the profound and dark valley of tragedy lying prostrate before the highest mountain of God's character and Grace.  Can we not rejoice in the goodness of God toward the broken and contrite heart?!

 God’s plan of salvation is based on a Fatherly God who desires to save the hopeless and helpless.  God, our Father, so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son on the cross to give us the remedy for sin.  

The kingdom of Christ is only for the “poor in spirit.”  The poor in spirit have brokenness of heart.  They seek and look to God for help.  They strip themselves of all self-sufficiency, self-security, and self-righteousness.  They are not proud, thinking that God owes them something. They are aware of their spiritual poverty.  They acknowledge they must be beggars before God to enter the kingdom of heaven.  Kingdom citizens beg and do not boast or brag (John 15:5; 9:39-41).  God wants broken hearts that recognize that their goodness is not enough to measure up to God's standards.   You see, this is a big problem with our people today, for they think they're good enough and don't see the need for God to save them.  

Without brokenness and poverty of spirit, we can only endure one ruler.  Guess who?  Self.  Why?  Because we deceive ourselves, believing that we must fight to preserve our own little kingdom of death rather than repent and follow Jesus, who must rule over us.  We must empty ourselves to be saved.  Without accepting our grave sins, it will be impossible to have brokenness.  There won't be any Grace.  It will be impossible to grasp Christ's glory and riches found in the Gospel without brokenness.  In brokenness, we become aware of our sinfulness (Romans 3:10; 3:23).  A failure to recognize our brokenness can only alienate us from God's Grace and power to transform our lives of sin into righteousness.  Thus we must empty ourselves that we might be filled with God's righteousness. 

So, will you come to Jesus our Lord with a broken and contrite heart, confessing your sins so that He may cleanse your heart?  Will you allow Jesus to transform your life? Will you be willing to experience the salvation that He and only He can provide?  Why not turn to God for refuge?  Why not refuse the urge to self-sufficiency and independence, for you need a Savior to save you from your broken life?!  Why would anyone turn such a great salvation down?!  Why not find God after failure and receive salvation and Grace?  

Don't let Satan immobilize you because of your guilt, for he wants you to give up restoring your relationship with God! Remember that God can blot out your transgressions and continue His unfailing love toward you and me only when we confess our sins to Him with complete brokenness and poverty of spirit.  

May we teach the Gospel of Salvation to all the broken people in this world and give them the hope to mend their lives.  May they bring their broken lives to God to be mended and be made whole again.  May all men have brokenness of heart, sincere repentance, sorrow over sin, and a heartfelt appeal to God for His Grace and lovingkindness.  May they have a spirit of brokenness that weeps bitterly over their sins, and may they repent before God before it’s too late.  May all people know the depth of their sins and the need for a Savior to rescue them from their brokenness of spirit.  May they have a heart of humility to heed the Gospel Message to transform their broken lives into vessels of righteousness to God’s glory.  

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."  (Matthew 5:3-4)

Our beautiful song, “Just as I Am I Come Broken To Be Mended,”  expresses the blessings of brokenness.  It speaks of the submission that comes from our brokenness of heart.  There is no salvation but in Christ, for there is no other way to plead our case to God but through His Son who shed His blood for us in Calvary (Romans 5:8; Titus 3:5).  To be saved from our sins, we must humbly come to Christ.  He has promised not to cast out those who come broken to Him to be mended (John 6:37).  Jesus has already paid the ramson for our sins through His blood (Matthew 26:28).  So, we must come to Him with our brokenness to rid our souls of the dark spots that sin has caused in our souls (2 Peter 3:14).   So, why wait to be mended from your brokenness?  Come now just as you are to enjoy the blessings of salvation (2 Cor. 6:2).

However, there must be motivating penitent feelings to come to Christ to be mended.  Our brokenness leads us to genuine repentance (2 Cor. 7:10).   That was David’s case after confessing his sin to God (Psalm 51:1-2).  When we come to Christ with our brokenness, we can find all we lack:  spiritual blessings and healing (Revelation 3:18).  The broken in sin are spiritually poor, wretched, and blind (Revelation 3:17).  But they must come to Christ to partake of these spiritual blessings, for they are only found in Him (Eph. 1:3).  Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).   Our Lamb of God came to welcome, pardon, cleanse, and relieve us from the burden of sin.  God’s love made this happen ( John 3:16).  God’s love sent His beloved Son to be our sacrifice for sin.  Therefore, the broken in sin must believe in Christ to be saved.  Come to Jesus, our Lamb of God, turning from all sin and humbly submitting to Him.  Let God mold you into what He wants you to be.  

I hope the words of this lovely song stir your soul the way it does mine.

Just as I Am, I Come Broken To Be Mended

Just as I am, without one plea 

But that Thy blood was shed for me,

And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,

O Lamb of God, I come,  I come.

Just as I am, and waiting not

To rid my soul of one dark blot.

To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

I come broken to be mended 

.I come wounded to be healed.

I come desperate to be rescued.

I come empty to be filled.

I come guilty to be pardoned.

By the blood of Christ the Lamb,

And I'm welcomed with open arms,

Praise God, just as I am.

Just as I am, I would be lost,

But mercy and grace my freedom bought.

And now to glory in Your cross,

O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

I come broken to be mended.

I come wounded to be healed.

I come desperate to be rescued.

I come empty to be filled.

I come guilty to be pardoned.

By the blood of Christ the Lamb,

And I'm welcomed with open arms,

Praise God, just as I am

Praise God, just as I am

Praise God, just as I am.

Luci