Pastor Bob Lawrenz
Perhaps you still remember what your life was like before you met Jesus and asked Him to take the reins of your heart. Maybe you have always loved the Lord because of the way you were raised, and parental influence. But loving Jesus does not protect us from tough times, or from temptation.
Eventually though, every one of us must have our crossroads with Jesus.
Back in 2005, a Country & Western singer by the name of Carrie Underwood sang a song, “JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL.” It was a smash hit on the Country Music Charts and crossed over onto the Pop Charts too.
Already loving and trusting the Lord, the song is about a young driver going through a snowstorm on her way home to see her family. The roads were icy, the wind was blowing, and her car went into a skid. Not only was the car out of her control, but it seemed that her life was too. “Jesus take the wheel” was her plea as the car skidded uncontrollably.
If you have ever driven in winter, you have probably encountered “black ice.” You’re on it before you even realize it, and it provides absolutely no traction for the tires. There’s often a thin veneer of water atop black ice and it’s slipperier than an ice-skating rink.
The singer’s plea essentially was “Jesus save me!” There was no one else around, and the singer didn’t know how or where that car was taking her. That’s like just going along and letting your life take you where it wants to go.
Perhaps you still remember what your life was like before you met Jesus and asked Him to take the reins of your heart. Maybe you have always loved the Lord because of the way you were raised, and parental influence. But loving Jesus does not protect us from tough times, or from temptation.
Eventually though, every one of us must have our crossroads with Jesus.
Back in 2005, a Country & Western singer by the name of Carrie Underwood sang a song, “JESUS TAKE THE WHEEL.” It was a smash hit on the Country Music Charts and crossed over onto the Pop Charts too.
Already loving and trusting the Lord, the song is about a young driver going through a snowstorm on her way home to see her family. The roads were icy, the wind was blowing, and her car went into a skid. Not only was the car out of her control, but it seemed that her life was too. “Jesus take the wheel” was her plea as the car skidded uncontrollably.
If you have ever driven in winter, you have probably encountered “black ice.” You’re on it before you even realize it, and it provides absolutely no traction for the tires. There’s often a thin veneer of water atop black ice and it’s slipperier than an ice-skating rink.
The singer’s plea essentially was “Jesus save me!” There was no one else around, and the singer didn’t know how or where that car was taking her. That’s like just going along and letting your life take you where it wants to go.
Life can do that to an unsuspecting person and drag us along where we don’t want to go. It might be a twisty path one is on, and even a dangerous one.
The scriptures tell us that without Christ we are destined to hell. There are no good works that can alter our eternal destination. Good works aren’t even among the criteria for being saved. The Bible tells us to believe in our hearts that Jesus was raised from the dead, and to profess our faith publicly, and we will be saved. (Romans 10:9)
“Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” ~ Galatians 3:6
Today's Audio Message:
Ephesians 2:11-22 - "Before and Ever After"
Summary:
The Gentile nations were once without hope for a Savior to save them. There was no basis for the Gentiles to look for the Messiah, they knew not of him. Christ belonged to Israel, and therefore the Gentiles were excluded as the privileged recipients of the promise. They were strangers to the covenants of promise. The Gentiles had no hope, they did not share in the hope of salvation, nor the possibility of having a relationship with the Lord. They were pagans, and ignorant of the true and living God.“But now in Christ Jesus” all of that has changed. In Christ Jesus a dramatic change has occurred. Now all can be brought near by the blood of Christ. Jesus is the meeting point with God for all of humanity. We are brought near to God because of the blood of Jesus. We see the high cost of bringing us close to God — Jesus’ death. Paul is announcing the seemingly impossible: the Gentiles who were once excluded from the promises of God have been brought near by the blood of Jesus Christ.
