By Faith Possessed

For years, we have been struggling with the process of eliminating poisons in our water supply, harmful chemicals in the air we breathe, and finding medicines and drugs that will remove the sickness from our bodies.

But when John the Baptist confronted Jesus at the time of his baptism, we hear John saying, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” (Jn. 1:29)

With the coming of Jesus, therefore, something entered life that takes away sin. Here indeed is a wonder! We have not found anything, really, to take away the common cold...let alone cancer, or alcoholism, or a dozen other problems. But here is something that can take away sin.

And when we come right down to it, the real problems of this world, are not cancer, or colds, or poverty, or even pollution, important as these are. The really important problems are those human relations between peoples: selfishness, hatred, greed, murder, and that which creates poverty, and broken homes, and inter-national tensions. Putting it simply, our problem is sin!

And John the Baptist said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.” Here, then is what we are dealing with...a force that has the power to take away sin. Paul said, he was not ashamed of it, for it was the power of God for salvation.

Have you stopped to consider what your faith is really all about? Is it not that grand and glorious idea that there is a new way of living that takes sin out of life? It is the way of love, of unselfishness, of vicarious suffering, and of going the second mile.

The secret of 1^st century Christianity was not that they could outsmart the Roman Empire, or over-stockpile them, or beat them in any armament race, or win the cold war, but that they could out-love them, and they could out-die them! And this they did, singing “Hallelujahs” as they went to their deaths, in the lion-filled arenas.

They had something to live for that made dying worthwhile, and something to die for that made living eternal. They were not looking so much for what they could hold, as for what held them. They were by faith possessed.

I am not convinced that either the Democrats or the Republicans can solve all of today’s problems...nor the Senate or the Congress. I do not expect that the President will eliminate evil and immorality. I hope he tries. However, I am by my faith possessed, that if TIDE can take the dirt out...LOVE can take the sin out! And that love is truly the answer to the confused mess we are in.

We must find new ways of living by love, because the love of Jesus takes away sin. This is not easy, nor does it even seem practical. And yet, the cross was not practical, nor was John 3:16 practical. But it was necessary for your salvation, and for mine.