Romans Part 3 - LIFESample

Whose Table Are You Eating From?

Each of us is born in iniquity, in sin; however, we are born with eternity in our hearts. To accept this treasure, we must be willing to open the door when Jesus knocks. Salvation is the most personal and intimate choice of any human being's existence. It is the decision that carries the greatest consequence. We each have a decision to make; the choice to surrender to God and allow His grace and salvation through Christ Jesus to save us, or to not submit.

There is no gray area, no middle ground; it is black and white, life or death. Once I decided to say yes to Jesus, to invite Him in, there was an immediate day and night difference that I noticed within myself. The chaos I had been operating in was no longer the only choice, the only way to "live,” I immediately realized I hadn't been living, but was barely surviving; I was dying of thirst!

I had stepped over a spiritual line I hadn't realized existed. I was no longer an enemy of God. Through the blood of Jesus Christ, I received a beautiful gift, a priceless treasure; I was reconciled to my Creator! I was lifted out of the grave and into His resurrection life and what exploded into my dark heart was His hope, His love, His light, His righteousness. The things of the world that I had been ravenously consuming, just moments before opening the door of my heart to Jesus Christ, now looked like dead rats compared to the feast He was offering me at His table. God had reconciled me to Himself, showing me that I had known Him before, that He had called me into existence, numbering my days. My eyes were finally seeing what had been there all along: HIM. This reconciliation continues to bring me an immeasurable joy, an overflowing triumphant joy: the joy of Christ Himself, through His Holy Spirit.

Jesus can do all this in His death; I can't even begin to imagine all that He can do living at the right hand of our Heavenly Father! Jesus Christ, alone, changes everything. Because of Jesus, we can choose joy, no matter our circumstances.

What will you choose today?

-Ardena Hamill