When Adam and Eve fell to temptation in Genesis 3, sin entered the world. The first man and woman were cast out of Eden when they chose to disobey God. In the followingchapters of Genesis and throughout scripture, we see shame, strife, death, disobedience, pain, chaos, and people living as though there were no God. Though God sent a flood to cleanse the earth, it didn’t take long for sin to become rampant again. When we look at the world around us, we see the destructiveness of sin. We have the same enemy that the first man and woman had, and he will do anything to keep us from knowing and walking with God. We have assurance even in this because Jesus tells us in 1 John 4:4: “Little children, you are from God and have overcome, for He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 

 

Romans 6:23 tells us: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Father God sent His only Son to be our Savior. What an unbelievable,indescribable gift of love – the love that sent Jesus to take our place on the cross. We earned the death sentence, yet He willingly poured His life out for us. Hebrews 5:7-10 reminds us that Jesus suffered in our place: “In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to Him who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.” 

 

When we hear the “old, old story about a Savior who came from glory,” the Holy Spirit stirs our souls and leads us to the nail-scarred feet of Jesus. For the first time, we see ourselves through His eyes – our lostness and utter helplessness to save ourselves. We see and grieve at the depravity of our sin, but we also rejoice at the depth of love poured out for our redemption. We come to know that it is the love of Christ that brings us straight into His arms. 2 Corinthians 7:10 tells us: “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” There is no greater love…

 

But the story doesn’t end at our salvation. We, too, are called to walk the path of suffering, to stand in the gap for others. We have a story to tell, and we will pay a price for sharing the story. Some will scorn and think us ignorant, and others may seek to silence us as we share the truth of God. We must always remember that Christ was no stranger to suffering. His suffering saved us from eternal death; likewise, we will experience suffering when we follow Him. Suffering reminds us to keep our eyes on Jesus who molds and fits us for the paths we are called to walk. Suffering leads us to put our hope in Him, and in Jesus, we have the Light of the World that sets us apart in a dark world that desperately needs a Savior. Jesus brings a sweetness into our suffering when we lean fully into His love. He is all we need. “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)