As I sit here and work at the computer, it is very apparent to me that in order for the computer to work, I must do as the manual tells me. Who made the rules and what right did he/she/they have to make them? The answer should be obvious, right? The person who created the computer writes the rules in order for the computer to work properly.
It is the same with us. In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. These are the first words in the bible. You may dispute them, but there is actually more proof and validity to these words than to any other theory that has been proposed. So, God created not only the earth, but everything in the earth ... that includes man. But God did not leave things there; He also gave everything in the earth order. In the beginning everything was perfect. There was no sickness, no crimes, a perfect relationship with the Creator etc. etc. God instructed Adam as to the very simple rules of the garden. Then what happened ... Eve and Adam decided to do things their own way. They listen to the serpent and took his advice over what God had said.
Now what happens when you decide you can operate you computer without following the basic rules? It probably does not work properly; you may even open it up to getting a virus or two or it may even decide to go AWOL. That is what happened with Adam and Eve when they disobeyed God; they now opened themselves up to viruses (sin, hurts and disease etc). Every person after Adam and Eve has made the same decisions that they did. Each person figured they knew better and did things their own way. Every single person, including you, has been affected by sin. For example we have all caused sorrow, and have all been hurt. Sin breaks us, and separates us from the one who created us. In order to be fixed we need this relationship with our Creator restored.
Sometimes, you are not sure something is wrong with you computer. It just may seem slow. It is the way with people. It is very obvious that some people are broken; yet others seem so wonderful, that it looks like nothing is wrong. Yet God's word says that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Romans 3:26
When your computer is broken, you need to get it fixed. Who can fix your computer? Generally, the people who make the computer or the programs have the best understanding of how to fix them. They also need to know the problem. Therefore, in following that logic, we know the only one who can fix us is the one who created us and the problem is sin. God, in all his loving wisdom provided a manual to show us that we can be fixed and how. This manual is His word. Romans 6:23 states, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord". Jesus is the way.
One of the most beautiful scriptures, (in my opinion) is Isaiah 53. Here are verses 4-6: "Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by Him and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed." Jesus, when he was nailed to the cross, took all the wrongs, the hurts, the sins. He came to fix us. He did all the work, but there is one problem. We need to acknowledge that we are broken and that we need to be fixed. Then we need to believe that Jesus came and died on the cross for us. Jesus not only died on the cross, but He rose again on the third day, bringing victory over sin and death.
Jesus did all the work, we just need to believe. Romans 10:9 says if you confess with your mouth that Jesus in Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. This is the message of Easter and about and how you can experience healing and restoration.
– contributed by Lynne Bode, Christian Life Assembly, Barriere