It is one of those things that I often overlook. The REDEMPTION of Christ! While I understand that one of the underlying tenants to the Christian faith is the salvation that Christ came to deliver, I am often lost and confused. To me, that is a hard pill to swallow. How am I, Justin Kent, a Biblical and Theological major who loves the Lord, confused and often left forgetful of the redemption of Christ? I do not know if it is the craziness of life or just the little remnants of my sinful nature, but I struggle!
For those who may be foreign to the constant attacks of Satan in your life, I just want to lay out what the redemption of Christ is. I mean, this is partly a remedy for how I am feeling right now, but it is also an opportunity to remind others that His redemption wins. Redemption is simply defined as “the action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil.” It is pretty simple isn’t it. Most people I know can lay out that some man named Jesus died for our sins so that we (humanity) might be saved. But as much as that could be a good “story,” do you and I truly believe and live it out or do we just let these truths pass by as words that go in one ear and out the other? Now that is a tough and challenging question! I can say for myself that the redemption of Christ has been topical at best. It is not the fact that I do not believe, as I assuredly do, but I have often been far to laid back and analytical with God. I grapple with things that I should just trust and I tend to wait for a “better” time in relaying obedience.
So you may be wondering why Redemption is on my mind?! IT IS BECAUSE… I feel as though I am flailing around in the world hoping to feel the truths of the gospel that I mentally understand. I am in no way on the verge of unbelief, but I am in a desperate desire to chase after the emotive nature that is foundational to the faith. I want to feel the redemption of Christ! I may feel broken and tears may flow, but I may be overjoyed with draw to all that seems so distant. Funny enough, I like to remind myself through of the images and clips of the death of Christ to realize that His sacrifice was not something to be taken lightly. HE was BEATEN and SCOURGED! That was the cost and that was what is took for us to rejoin in union with Him. It is far to easy to be swayed with the lighthearted presentation of the cross and the crown of thorns, but it was meant as mockery to the King of Kings! None of it was presented as a glorious experience. Christ died a dirty and painful death because of you and me! The price of Redemption was Jesus hanging, void of Spirit and life for 3 days. It is through the resurrection that Redemption was complete. But is that enough? I say so! It is just one of those things that I need a constant reminder of. Through the various seasons of life, it is nice to know that that the battle was already won, and know that I am free by the Redemption that Christ brought.
SO I Am:
A New Creation, wholly and beloved by the father!
To each and every one of you who reads this blog…
Know that you are loved more than you know!
Know that God forgave you eternally!
Know Redemption wins!
Know Him!
As I finish this I just wanted to leave you with this song lyric
from Lauren Daigle:
I am guilty
Ashamed of what I’ve done, what I’ve become
These hands are dirty
I dare not lift them up to the Holy one
Chorus
You plead my cause
You right my wrongs
You brake my chains
You overcome
You gave Your life
To give me mine
You say that I am free
How can it be
How can it be
I’ve been hiding
Afraid I’ve let you down, inside I doubt
That You could love me
But in Your eyes there’s only grace now
Chorus
You plead my cause
You right my wrongs
You brake my chains
You overcome
You gave Your life
To give me mine
You say that I am free
How can it be
How can it be
Bridge
Though I fall, You can make me new
From this death I will rise with You
Oh the grace reaching out for me
How can it be
How can it be
Chorus
You plead my cause
You right my wrongs
You brake my chains
You overcome
You gave Your life
To give me mine
You say that I am free
How can it be
How can it be
It is because of Christ that we are here today! I pray that each and every one of you would come to meet a personal relationship with the one true God and that you would be moved to put your faith into action in one way or another!
As I feel like a burden to ask, I ask for your prayerful support on my journey to share the love of God to the 11 nations He has blessed me to embark to! Additionally, I hate to be blunt, but I am really in need for your monthly financial support on this race! I still need to raise roughly $13,000 more dollars and I know that as time passes we forget. I forget. I was just like many of you. I casually read my friends requests and said I would get back to it… but I didn’t. Just like with redemption, I forgot. I am thankful for all your support in this transforming journey! May you be blessed eternally by trusting in the one who moves us to do more than we could ever imagine!
-Justin 🙂
