This time of year in my neighborhood one thing divides the haves from the have nots, it is the leaf blower. When my wife and I moved into our home 18 months ago, we quickly made friends with all the neighbors around us. Without exception they all offered to help, great advice (it was our first home) and tried to assist us in any way possible. If we needed help they were there, if we needed to borrow something no problem, that is except for one thing - their leaf blowers.
In a neighborhood full of old maples, elms and oaks leaves are the biggest problem you have in your yard. Well at least for those that are not trying to grow grass on a shady hill, but that is another story. Every neighbor told us to buy a leaf blower as soon as possible, and that it would be the best investment we made in our home. We did and they were right. Without our gas powered leaf blower/mulcher we would never be able to get our leaves moved, and we would still be trying to get the leaves up in spring. The point here is this, as much as our neighbors are great people they can not be without their blower as they have the same leaf problems we do. The goodness can only extend so far, at some point we have to be responsible for our own problems.
A saving relationship with God is the same way. Your friends and family can only do so much for you. They can help you understand Jesus and God. They can answer your questions. They can even help you find answers to questions that they do not know themselves, but ultimately it is up to you to take care of your own salvation.
The help, assistance, and aid of others can not gain your eternal life. Only a personal one on one relationship with Jesus can solve your personal sin problem. For those that do not know, your personal sin problem is that without Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross paying the price of your sins you can not go to heaven. No amount of money, good deeds, clean living, and great personality can get you to heaven, it is only a relationship with Jesus.
The Bible tells us in Philippians 2 to work out our relationship/salvation with God with “fear and trembling”. That means this is serious stuff. This is no longer a small difference in opinion, this is a huge canyon between yourself and God. The great thing is that Jesus acts as a bridge and, like my leaf blower with leaves, makes the task possible. God wants a personal relationship with you, and He wants it today. He wants to intimately be involved in your actions, decisions, and life, but He can not act in your life unless you want Him too.
Do not misunderstand me, I am not saying that you not walking with God will limit His work, it will not. He will accomplish all that He desires to accomplish, with or without you, but your personal decisions will and can stop Him from working in your life. The question you must decide is whether you want to do it on your own, or whether you want God to help you with your life? If you want to do it on your own that is fine. However, in the end that decision guarantees that your earthly accomplishments will never compare to those of God, Jesus and the saints. Again, it is your choice though. No one else can make it for you, and no one else can attain your salvation for you. It is your problem, and only you have the power to solve it.
So, today, if you have not already, decide whether you are going to take responsibility to solve your own sin problem, or if you are going to choose to hope that others can and will save you from your fate.
God is good all the time, all the time God is good. He is waiting to heal and help you today, allow Him to be your God, and allow Him to help you clean the sin of your life out today. He never loses His children, and He will not abandon them in a time of need. His love will make your life worth living and His guidance will make your life meaningful.
