5 minute read
There is hope
By Pastor Joel Rolf
How does a person come to a living faith in Jesus Christ? If you know Jesus Christ as your Savior, how did that come about in your life?
You may have been baptized as an infant, taught the Word of God, and prayed over from infancy. Maybe you don’t remember a time when you were not trusting in Christ as your Savior, and you continue to trust Him today. If that is true for you, you are exceedingly blessed!
Others come to a living faith in their childhood, as a youth, or in their adult years through a variety of accompanying circumstances. Increasing numbers of people today have very little spiritual background or understanding of even the basics of God’s Word. Many are growing up in a confused culture of not knowing who or what to believe or trust. There is hope in Christ for every person.
God’s Word gives us great insight into how God softens hard hearts and minds and gives grace to turn to the Lord and trust in Christ. Second Corinthians 3:12-4:6 is a wonderful passage that gives us understanding into this process.
Notice, firstly, that by nature we resist God and don’t trust Christ. “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God” (4:4, NLT). In chapter 3, Paul describes this further, especially how it was for the Jews, “But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can only be removed by believing in Christ. Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand. But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away” (vv. 14-16). It should not surprise us when people’s minds are blinded, or they are deceived into trusting dead end roads that lead to destruction.
Notice, secondly, the glorious power of the gospel of Christ to transform hardened, veiled hearts. “Whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away” (3:16), “And this veil can only be removed by believing in Christ” (3:14). This should not surprise us. God, through His Holy Spirit’s gracious work through His Word, shows us our sin and shows us our Savior Jesus Christ. In this process, the Holy Spirit, in His kindness, leads us to repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 2:4; John 16:8-11).
The word “turns” speaks of the repentance process of turning from sin and self to trusting in Christ and the sacrificial payment He made at the cross for all of our sin. We should be grateful for the Holy Spirit’s work to give us grace to trust in Christ and to give us insight into His Word. “For God, who said, ‘Let there be light in darkness,’ has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ” (II Corinthians 4:6). God, by His Spirit, graciously shines His light in our otherwise dark hearts, giving us the light of life so that we might know God and Christ in His glory and grace, and also share it with others.
Notice, thirdly, that God desires to use you who know Christ as your Savior to lovingly and patiently listen to those whose minds, hearts, and lives have been blinded, bruised, and broken, and help them see the light of the glory of Christ. “Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way, we never give up …” (4:1). As we have received mercy from God, so God would give us His love, mercy, and compassion for others. He desires to give us hearts that come alongside others, hear their stories, and help them see and know Jesus. God gives everyone of us who know Him these kinds of opportunities in various ways each day, individually or corporately.
Every Tuesday morning is a special time in my week as men from our congregation and community gather at our church for breakfast and Bible study. One morning our study included a range of attendees from our congregation and six area churches. We studied Luke 19:1-10 where Jesus entered Jericho, saw Zacchaeus up in a sycamore tree and told him that He wanted to come to his house that very day. We are not told the content of their conversation, but it is apparent that any shady things Zacchaeus had done as a tax collector were brought to light and he came to trust in Jesus as his Savior. The evidence of the change in his heart became clear as he said, “‘I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!’ Jesus responded, ‘Salvation has come to this home today’” (Luke 19:8-9a).
Jesus set a great example for us to use opportunities each day to meet people where they are, listen to the concerns on their hearts, and help them find forgiveness, hope, and life in Christ. There is hope in Christ for every person!
Rolf serves Minnewaska Lutheran, Starbuck, Minn.