Living Life by Design

I had the opportunity to take my oldest grandson (15) to Las Vegas to spend a few days together, just the two of us. We had an incredible time exploring the extravagant hotels, eating, sunning by the pool, and did I mention…eating? We talked openly and I had the opportunity to share my testimony. I detailed what my life looked like before the day I met Christ. My grandson looked at me in disbelief…lol. 

The moment you receive Jesus the past is dealt with. You receive complete forgiveness. The barrier between you and God has been removed. Paul writes in Romans 8, ‘There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus’ (v.1). You are set free from the law of sin and death (v.2). Although the law was good, it was powerless to save us because of our sinful nature (v.3). So, God sent Jesus to die for us as a sin offering (v.3). Jesus took away all your sins – past, present and future.

Now, in the present, you can enjoy life in the Spirit. You no longer live ‘according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit’ (v.4). The Holy Spirit leads you to stop setting your mind on ‘what that [sinful] nature desires’ but rather to set your mind on ‘what the Spirit desires’ (v.5). This leads to ‘life and peace’ (v.6). Paul is not saying that you will be perfect, but rather that ‘even though you still experience all the limitations of sin – you yourself will experience life on God’s terms’ (v.10). This is possible because right now the Spirit of God lives in you (v.9).

A pastor once told me that when we stand before God (and we all will) he will have two questions. The first will be, ‘Is your name written in the book of life?’ The second will be, ‘Who did you bring with you?’

What will your answer be?