A Clean Slate in 2008

A whole fresh year stretches before us. What will you write in your year? What will God write about you in this year? What has already been written down? Does that surprise you that God has kept up with everything you have thought and done over the years of your life? The Bible tells us in Hebrews 9:27b, "it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" We are told more about that judgment in Revelation 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. The end for the ones at the white throne judgment is not good. The chapter goes on to say - Rev 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

There is an alternative to this though. You have a choice and do not have to end up at the white throne judgment. God has provided one way for you to escape being condemned for all eternity and that is through the Lord Jesus Christ. Isaiah 1:18 says Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. God can make your whole life history just as clean and white as a brand new slate. It happens through the blood of Jesus Christ.

You see all of us are in trouble. We have all sinned (Romans 3:23) and the Bible tells us that the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23a) and we see from the verses we read in Revelation that is talking about spiritual death, separation from God in torment for eternity not just physical death. Jesus is God in the flesh, who because of his love for us, chose to lay aside the glory He had in Heaven and take on the form of man. The creator of the universe became a baby born of a virgin, grew up, lived a sinless life, then allowed man to beat and crucify Him to pay for your sins and mine. He took our punishment. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:21, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." The blood Jesus shed on the cross will wash away all our sin and make our life a clean new slate. 1John 1:7 says, "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin."

Jesus did not stay dead, He arose the 3rd day in victory and because of that He is ever alive to be our Saviour and justifier. Romans 4:25b tells us that Jesus was "delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." Hebrews 7:25 tells us, "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."

The choice is yours, if you have never been saved/born again, won't you come to God in faith, repenting of your way and your sins and trust what Jesus has done for you to wash away your sin and receive Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord, letting Him give you are new clean beginning? 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

If you are already saved, what will you write in 2008 in service for the Lord? Will you be faithful this year? Though saved we are human and we fail. Thankfully the Lord has told us in 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  If we fall He will help us up and help us to go on for HIM. You have a new day, a new year to live for God. Use it wisely with HIS help!