Don't close your eyes

It’s easy to get down. It’s easy to loose hope. It’s easy to decide life is hopeless and there is nothing worth living for. But let’s look today at who is behind these thoughts and who has a better way.

Life is inherently unfair. Things happen to us that we do not deserve. Your parents might die in a car wreck when you are little. Your house may burn down and kill your brothers and sister. You may be born with a disease that leaves you crippled and different than everyone else. You may be fat. You may be ugly. Someone may hurt you and make you feel like you are broken. Everyone is promised that sin will wreck their lives. This is a reality of this world. It is a byproduct of the fall. If this was not so, God the Father wouldn’t have had to send his only begotten son to die for that brokenness.

But you still hurt and you still can’t seem to find a way out of your troubles? So you think about quick, easy outs. You think about death. You think about jumping off- taking matters into your own hands. Forget God’s plan… you are ready!!!

Let's look at two examples the New Testament gives us on this topic. Jesus GAVE his life, a sacrifice for others. He willingly placed others needs before his own safety. He allowed himself to do so that YOU might live.

Judas, on the other hand, he took his life. Wrecked by guilt of what sins were on his hands, he selfishly took control. He ended his life thinking only of his own sorry self.

This is not Christianity! Being a Christ-follower involves giving up control to the will of Father-God, just like Jesus did in the Garden on the Mount of Olives. If we fall into a sea of our own self-pity we fool ourselves... we give control over to the devil and we die. We live life in the reflection of Judas, a betrayer... and not Jesus our Savior.

Jesus taught us that life is precious and that death is the work of the 'thief'. John 8:44 says that Satan is a "murderer" and the "father of lies". The feelings of despair that lead to suicide are caused by some of his lies. Jesus teaches us to embrace the opposite. He wants us to have LIFE! New Life in HIM! He said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10)

So what is the answer to feelings of despair and hopelessness? Make no mistake; these feelings are a result of the cancer that eats spiritually at this world. This cancer is sin... the devil's tool. There is only one REAL remedy to the sins of the world... Faith in God and the promises made and fulfilled by Jesus on the cross.

We wait in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,
even as we put our hope in you.

Psalms 33:20-22

Jesus won't just take your cares if you ask him to, he's begging you to. He loves you and he's calling you. He's watching you suffer and he's pleading for you to cast off the yoke of sin that is weighing you down. He says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

Salvation isn't just securing eternal security. Salvation is placing trust in the Lord, giving everything to Him... mostly your TRUST! If we believe that Jesus is Lord and place our trust in Him and we walk with Him He becomes in us and we gain a new life in HIM! Our old sins are washed away. We become new creations in HIM! We break our old bonds of sin and become attached to HIM. If you are still a slave to your old sin... let it go and really trust in Jesus... don't just say a prayer... don't just go to the altar... ALTER YOUR LIFE! Jesus is there and He's ready to change you and take away your burdens and give you peace!

We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.

1 John 2:3-6

Transform your life into a reflection of Jesus Christ... never give up or give in to the pressures of the devil... Don't let your life become a reflection of Judas the betrayer. Find forgiveness. Find salvation in Christ. Find new life. Find a new beginning. Don't just go to Jesus... run to him and shout and weep and throw yourself down and give it all too Him.

This is your Life

Switchfoot

yesterday is a wrinkle on your forehead

yesterday is a promise that you've broken

don't close your eyes,

don't close your eyes

this is your life and today is all you've got now

yeah, and today is all you'll ever have

don't close your eyes

don't close your eyes

this is your life, are you who you want to be

this is your life, are you who you want to be