Have you ever been going through your day and God hits you with a spiritual lesson or insight that seemingly comes out of nowhere, but you’re left pondering it all day?

That happened to a friend the other day as they were walking into a hospital to undergo a test.

The name of the hospital is Christ Hospital and there they care for people with heart conditions. As they looked at the sign, my friend realized they could stand outside the hospital, literally stand under the sign itself, they could understand the name and what it means, know what they do there, talk to others about it, but if they never chose to step into the hospital, they wouldn’t receive the healing care and help they needed. They had to step inside and submit themselves to the doctor’s care, trusting in his knowledge and wisdom for their healing because they can’t heal themselves.

This genetic problem will require ongoing care for a lifetime. They will need to keep going back to Christ Hospital. They can’t fix it myself. Ignoring it won’t change it. Thinking positive thoughts won’t correct it. Their health and life depend on my being present and cared for by the experts who can look deeply into their heart and see what is wrong and then apply the necessary procedures and medicines that will keep their heart healthy.

As we talked, the Lord struck me that this is such a powerful picture of our need for Christ!! We have a chronic sin problem- we ALL have it and we will live with it for a lifetime. Sin brings death. It wreaks destruction. It thrives in darkness and breeds pride and self-righteousness. It debilitates and destroys us. And we need a Healer who can look into our hearts, remove the sin, and bring healing and purpose. Our hearts need constant attention from the One who created them. We don’t just need Him once, we need Him for life. His ongoing care and protection ensures our heart will remain protected from the damage sin causes.

You see, this life is not all there is. We were meant to live with God, in harmony and oneness. All creation was meant to be set at one with Him. Yet sin corrupted that and separated us from God. Being a good person does not qualify us for heaven, only God can qualify us. God made a way, through Jesus’ death and resurrection, that our sins could be forgiven, our spiritual condition justified and sanctified, and our eternity secured with Him. Our affected hearts are a reminder that God has so much more waiting for us where our nearness to God will not be distanced by sin and our hearts won’t be divided between this fallen world and His eternal home for us. He will completely heal our physical hearts as He has healed us spiritually.

I’m in!

Friends, there are SO many people who treat Jesus casually. They know about Him. They can talk about Him to others, they know the ‘lingo’. They remain close to things associated with Him, yet they never enter into a relationship with Him. They stand outside, claiming association with Him, yet doing things their own way. They are not in Christ. They are not saved.

That word ‘in’ is the Greek word ‘en’ and it means a fixed position in place (where you are), time (when), and state (our internal situation), instrumentality (what is working on us), and a relation of rest (not changing position over time). (1)

God knows the difference. He sees the condition of our heart. He sees where we are and He knows whether we are in relationship with Him. He cannot be fooled.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

If we desire eternal life, if we long for forgiveness, if we crave purpose and eternal security, the only place to find it isin Christ. There is no other system of belief that offers assurance of forgiveness, redemption, justification, and eternal security with God. Every other religious system is dependent on the individual doing ‘enough’ to earn God’s favor. Yet, how can we ever be enough? We are fallen humans, full of sin, even on our best day, we have faults and failings that cannot stand before a holy God.

Are you in?

Jesus paid the price for our sin by dying on the cross and taking on himself the punishment for our sin. He was buried and rose from the grave, conquering death and its sting, forever alive and seated at the right hand of God. He gave His life so we could live. When we trust Jesus’ work on the cross for our salvation, we are in Christ. When we believe He was raised from the dead and holds authority over every power, position, and realm, we have His guaranteed salvation. We know that when God looks on us, instead of seeing our sin, He sees Jesus, holy, blameless, and acceptable. We are accepted as His child, His beloved.

Are you in?

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2

Are you praying for someone who needs God’s healing? Is your son or daughter lingering near the name of Jesus, yet refusing to enter and be treated? Maybe they know the right words, can quote scripture, they know the gospel, but they have not embraced it for their own salvation. Today is the day to pray that they would enter “in Christ” and be saved.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

Maybe you’re praying for a prodigal who is running from God and wants nothing to do with Him. Friends, God is mightier than the biggest attitude, He is stronger than the most rebellious spirit, He reaches farther than they can run, deeper than they can fall, and higher than any wall they might build. God is ever-present, everywhere. He sees exactly where they are, what they’re doing, and understands their deepest need. We cannot change their heart, although we may try, but God can. Pray that He would intervene, that the Holy Spirit would bring conviction and a desire to surrender their heart and life to Jesus. Pray that He would bring other believers into their path and that He would make Himself known in ways they cannot deny.

40 Days of Prayer for the Prodigal is a valuable resource that walks you through 40 days of Scripture-based prayer and offers journal prompts to support your focus and your mindfulness as you pray for your loved one. Don’t keep praying the same things over and over, use God’s word to deepen your prayers and fight the darkness with the light of Scripture. Get your copy on Amazon today!

Pray without ceasing.

G1722 - en - Strong's Greek Lexicon (KJV). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1722/kjv/tr/0-1/

Are You “In”?