A Sinner’s Crossroad to Salvation

I relied solely on my own abilities.
I boasted about my own strength.
I bolstered up my own self-image.
I deceived myself for my own gain.
I ruined adversaries for my own fortune.
I replaced Scripture for my own ideal.
I mocked God for threatening my own kingdom.

My own life was like a grand palace:

Look at my great health!
Look at my great wealth!
Look at my great stuff!
Look at my great success!
Look at my great spouse!

Come and see world!
Applaud loudly for me!
I know you want all of this...
...your envious eyes says it all!
Well, I earned all of this, so leave me!

This is the life that I and swarms of competitors deeply desire:

A good surplus — yet without satisfaction.
A good spouse — yet without wise council.
A good life — yet without God’s Law.
A good person — yet without Christ.

But - I was doing well:
I was an achiever.
I was virtuous, kind.
I was smart.
So, I didn’t need God.

Then ---- I was shown the Truth.

It revealed all what I believed about myself to be true:

It was a filter...

...in which I judged myself falsely.

A sledgehammer shattered my illusion.
I was now looking at a mirror:

I am a liar?
An adulterer and murder in my heart?
A thief?
Ungrateful?
I am an idolater without bowing myself down?
I am prideful?

God’s Law was that mirror, a reflection that showed me what I truly was...

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...a sinner.

Here lied before me a crossroad:
a decision that would forever change my eternity.

I was lost, but Jesus reached down to my pitiful state...to save me...

...It was then that I saw my sin as a heavy chain...
...It was a burden that only Christ could carry...

I wanted Peace.
I wanted Love.
I wanted Grace.
I wanted Forgiveness.
I wanted Him...

...so, I prayed solemnly:

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Would You forgive this wretched being, O God?
Would You purify my heart and soul of filth?
I am a fallen being because of my sin.
I cannot save myself from Your Perfect Judgement.
I accept with my whole heart and believe that Jesus is God.
I am only redeemed by Your Blood.
You are not dead.
Your Tomb is empty.
Jesus Christ, save me from my deserved separation from Thee.
Come and Be the Lord of my life...

...Amen...

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My blind eyes — now they’re open.
My wrestling soul — now at rest.
My Savior made a way to the Father for me.
Once it was a large canyon: impossible to cross over yonder.
Now Jesus made it possible: with the rugged cross, the bridgeway to God.

I----am----free.

Thus my life now has a purpose:

It’s not about my prolonged preservation.
It’s not about my expansive empire.
It’s not about my adept abilities.
It’s not even about my stout family unit.
This is about being a cheerful servant of Jesus Christ...

...The King of Kings.

Hereafter do I make this proclamation, O Lord:

My feet will run towards Thy Calling;
My hands will build up Thy Kingdom;
My lips will speak about Thy Mercy;
My eyes will gaze upon Thy Sacrifice;
My ears will heed to Thy Wisdom;
My mind will ponder on Thy Teachings.

From my solemn declaration of all my life,
I will make this prayer to Thee, Lord Jesus Christ:

To exemplify Thee with my hands, tongue, and countenance
like a water vessel in Thy Palms for pouring out Thy Majesty’s Blessings:

To love people;
To cherish goodness, purity;
To give thanks;
To teach Scripture;
To act prudently;
To work integrally;
To pursue knowledge;
To lend mercy, grace;
And to loath sin and evil.

I will tell others about Thy Salvation:

By lovingly telling them the Truth;
By guiding them towards Beauty;
By showing them that You alone are Good.

I like praying, reading Thy Word, and serving my fellow brethren...

...simple things to enjoy.

To be a part of my True Master’s Glorious Work is like being a plant in Thy Garden:
grown, corrected, and eventually blossom with full maturity.

The storms may brew.
The earth may rumble.
The winds may attempt to destroy this plantation!

BUT THY ROYAL SCEPTER SHALL PREVAIL!

This then is my only goal in life in which
previous generations that understood what it
meant to achieve Thy Reward...

...and what it might cost them.

Being now alive lends me time to serve Thee, my Lord,
and my servitude will be fully dedicated even towards
my most dire sacrifice...

...to my death.

After this reality, I will be reaped the greatest award of all:
Not silver, the purest gold, or precious stones...

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...BUT TO DWELL WITH THEE FOREVERMORE.

Amen.