Anti-depression

Sometimes when I get depressed about things, I reflect back on salvation.

Have you ever stolen anything? I have. Have you ever used God's name in vane? I have. Have you ever murdered someone? I have not. But, Jesus said, if you have anger against someone, you have committed murder in your heart. I'm guilty :( Have you every committed adultery? I have been faithfully married to my wife, Joni, for 28 years this summer. However, Jesus said, if you have looked at someone with lust, you have committed adultery in your heart. So, that means I am a lying thief that has committed adultery and murder. Man, trying to live a good life so I can have eternal life with God in heaven is harder than I thought.

The truth is the 10 commandments' purpose is just that. It is to reveal to me that I don't deserve eternal life because I am a sinner. I can't earn it no matter how hard I try.

If you kill someone and you go before a just Judge, should you be judged guilty and receive punishment? No doubt, you are guilty and deserve a punishment. Lets say the Judge sentences you to life in prison or $10,000,000. As you are being halled off, someone comes in and pays your debt and sets you free. You do not have to go to prison for the rest of your life because someone paid your debt. That is what Jesus did for you and me. He was perfect, sinless. He died on the cross and shed His blood for the payment of my sinfulness. He gave me a GIFT that I can't repay and all I have to do is ask for forgiveness of my sins, accept His gift and sacrifice for my sins, and learn to follow Him. If you haven't done that, all you have to do is pray a prayer to ask for forgiveness of your sinful ways and let Him know of your commitment to change your life.

The Bible says that you are suppose to accept Him as Lord and Savior. The savior part is what we have been talking about. The Lordship part is what most never get. Most people believe that I am suppose to be perfect if I am a Christian. All I am after accepting Jesus as savior is a sinner with a better future. The sinner part is still there but my fine has been paid by someone who has taken the burden away. However, when I accept Him, He promised to send me a helper. This helper is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit's job is to guide me in becoming more like Christ each day. I am suppose to grow. That means that I will still make mistakes, but, hopefully through the power of the Holy Spirit, I will not make as many mistakes today as I have in the past and I will make less in the future. When you have been forgiven for your sins, you get to walk free and in a relationship with Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit, until you sin again. What do I do now? The Holy Spirit will make you feel guilty and your conscience will bug you to let you know that you are out of the relationship. To get back into this relationship, as in marriage, you have to admit your mistake and ask forgiveness. It is a daily process of falling on your knees and searching your heart. That is one reason we pray. Paul ask Christ to forgive him of sins that he may have committed out of ignorance. Now that is seeking to be closer to Him!

If you are not a Christian or are not sure, God has given you the "free will" to choose to serve Him by accepting Him as Lord and Savior. If you haven't done that, I pray that you will. If you do that let me know and I will pray for you and try to guide you into being an obedient servant that has a wonderful future of eternal life with Jesus. What a gift.

If you are a Christian, but, you have had troubles. You should get back into the relationship. That is where you receive the peace and happiness that we all long for. It comes in serving Him.
Get on your knees and repent and ask for direction in your life through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Wow, my depression is gone. How can I be depressed when I know that when I die, I will be with Him living an eternal life. He has promised that there will be no more sin, no more tears, when I go to be with Him.

Hope I see you there, God bless, Dean