It Starts at the Cross

John 1:34 (NIV)
 ^" I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God." 

John the Baptist's job was to point people to Jesus, the long awaited Messiah. This is our job also. I never really made this connect before. John, Jesus's cousin, was the first to be charged with telling the world the good news and then pointing right at him and saying, "Make straight the way for the Lord." John was preparing the hearts of man to receive the Savior into their midst.

The prophet Isaiah foretold John the Baptist, who would come into the world proclaiming a Messiah would soon appear. Isaiah's people had been exiled for their sin, they had been in captivity for 70 years as a result of their evil and wicked ways. They spend 70 years living in a foreign land as a way to atone for their sin.

Isaiah and John were preparing their people, their world, for a long awaited Savior, one who would forgive sins and cleanse hearts the moment repentance took place. It sounds so easy, doesn't it? It seems like a free pass.  To think we can simply change our behavior and turn to God for forgiveness and it is done. But anyone who has ever attempted to change a behavior knows it isn't easy.

We struggle daily to do the next right thing. We fight temptations, addictions, resentments, and many days we have to start over again. But the wonderful thing is, we can start over. We have a God who loves us and wants us to keep trying and He will be at our side.

Our flesh is weak and we need help, lots of help. We need forgiveness and understanding. We need grace to get through each day.  We need the love of Jesus even give us the desire and then the fortitude to continue through each day, battling Satan. For that is what we do every day. Temptations abound.

Our world is filled with pain and suffering and sin.  But Jesus has overcome the world.

 John 1:19-34