“Jer 13:23 Can the Ethiopian change
his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are
accustomed to do evil.” (Jeremiah 13:23)
The greatest foolishness of men is to think that they
had all the answers and remedy to life’s deepest problems. They look within themselves for answers when
they are fully convinced that they are indeed lost. First, they try what
outward reformation can do, and they are amazed when they discover their own ineffectiveness;
then they turn their eyes towards their feelings, and either they labor after
tears and mental tortures until they grow conceitedly miserable, or else they
yield to hopelessness, because they find their heart to be as an adamant stone,
“Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant
stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts
hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath
from the LORD of hosts.”
The Need To
Be Received. The study of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs states that humans need to feel a sense of
belonging and acceptance among their social groups, regardless whether these groups are large or small. For example, some large social groups may include schools,
co-workers, Church groups, professional organizations, and sports teams. Some
examples of small social connections include family members, business partners,
mentors, colleagues, and counsellors. Humans need to receive and be received by
others. A collapse in providing this may cripple a person’s life. The Lord Jesus in John 6:37 assuredly invites, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to
me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” It is amazing
that a failure to trust in our fellow to supply this needs is an opportune time
to trust in Jesus to satisfy. There is a God in Heaven Who is ready to receive
us if we come to Him.
The Need To Be Redeemed. Redemption is the act of buying something back,
or paying a price to return something to your possession. Redemption is the
English translation of the Greek word agorazo, meaning "to purchase
in the marketplace." During the ancient times, it often referred to the
act of buying a slave. The Christian use of redemption means Jesus
Christ, through his sacrificial death on the Cross
of Calvary, purchased us from the slavery of sin to set us free from that bondage. The Scriptural passage
in Romans 3:23-24 attests, “For all have
sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” Our redemption is in God’s
provision and not on any human concoctions.
The world may promote redemption through any other means but without the
authority of the Word of God, that is all but deception by the Devil himself. Jesus Christ is able to redeem us.
The Need To Be
Restored. Throughout history no one has suffered more than God. He has suffered
because his own children fell away from Him. Ever since the Fall of man in the
Garden of Eden, God has been working tirelessly for the restoration of mankind.
People neglect this brokenhearted aspect of God. 2 Corinthians 5:18 asserts, “And all things are of God, who hath
reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of
reconciliation.” The truth is, a Christian falls into
sin. This is an unchangeable fact. Thankfully, it is the exception and not the
rule, but it happens. We are to restore the fallen brethren as we would have
them had it been us who fell into Satan’s fiery darts. We are to reconcile him
to God and to the Church. We are to help him back on his feet again. This
discipline is both personal and corporate; the individual has a responsibility
as does the entire church. We are commanded to help the brethren up. This is
restoration.
Without the Way there is no going; without the Truth there is
no knowing; without the Life there is no living. John 14:6 evidences this, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the
truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” May we all look to Jesus to have all our
needs fulfilled.
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