U-turns!

This week, the ol' blog comes to you from sunny North Carolina, where the Mrs. and I are enjoying some much-needed downtime with our delightful Shepherd/Collie mix, "Elsie." She sure loves the beach, and has been accompanying us for the last six years, ever since we started going there. While lazing around out there, enjoying the sunshine today, I started reading a book called, "God allows U-turns." It is a compilation by various authors of true stories of people who have been supported, comforted, healed, and most of all, redeemed, by the love of God. It's a good read. Here's another: the Bible is full of stories of flawed, suffering people brought to new hope by God, all the way from Genesis through Revelation. Since I'm feeling Old Testament-ish today, our examples will come from there. Adam and Eve disobeyed God's direct order with regard to the use of the garden's resources (see Genesis 2-3). David's was a sin of adultery with Bathsheba, compounded by his ensuring the death of her husband (see 2 Samuel 11). Samson chose poorly when it came to Delilah, resulting in the loss of his strength (see Judges 16). In the end, God did not abandon them, however, but responded with love to their cries for redemption. God is all about second chances (1 Samuel 12:20-22, ESV):

"And Samuel said to the people, 'Do not be afraid; you have done all that is evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty. For the LORD will not forsake his people, for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for himself.'"

It won't take you long to find similar examples in the New Testament as well. As long as you draw breath, no matter what you've done, no matter who you are, there is time to be saved by the wonderful, mysterious, incredible love of God. The atoning death of Jesus Christ, the man born to die, God incarnate, can overcome anything you think is standing in the way. This is the appointed time. This is the day to turn to God. This can be your day to join God's family. Turn to Him now. Most everyone has heard the expression, "here today, gone tomorrow." I like to modify that a bit, to "here today, gone today," because that's how quickly your demise can happen. You could be dead before you reach the end of this sentence. Still here? GOOD! There's still time for you. Don't wait. Cry out to God to save you. He hears the prayer of someone who recognizes that they are a sinner, and have no hope without Him. Ask Jesus to enter your heart, forgive your sins, and grant you a new life. Walking with Him won't always be easy, but it will always be worthwhile...and He will never, ever let you down.