Once again it is bitterly cold this morning – 28*F. Everything is frosty and icy outside.
I can’t help but think of the pipes in the workshop which froze a few years ago. That year our temperatures had dropped down to the teens and it was just too much for one of the sink pipes in the workshop.
Yesterday’s blog post pondered how life itself is a lot like a journey in below-freezing conditions! As I continue to ponder these thoughts today, the frozen pipes in the workshop are a good picture of how everyone and everything in life is “busted” and broken … just like frozen pipes!
Each one of us says things and does things which just aren’t right. We all say things and do things which wind up with “busted” consequences. We don’t intentionally mean to do things which aren’t right. It just happens.
The Bible explains it like this: “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.” – Romans 7:15
Eventually, every one of us finds ourselves just like a frozen pipe in below-freezing conditions. Our life winds up “busted” and broken! It’s a mess! Water spraying all over the place!
But the good news is that Jesus came to fix the problem. The problem is sin. Every one of us is born with a sinful nature – meaning, a natural inclination to do what is wrong.
None of us are naturally good. None of us are able to live perfect lives, where we never do anything wrong at all. “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who seeks God. … There is no one who does good, not even one.” – Romans 3:10-12
But Jesus left Heaven and came down to earth to fix the problem. Jesus is God – so Jesus is perfect! Jesus lived a perfect sinless life and never did anything wrong at all! Which is mind-blowing amazing!
Because we all are sinners and we all naturally do wrong things, we deserve punishment for our sin. But Jesus came and lived the perfect life we could never live so that he could rescue us! Jesus took our place! Jesus took the punishment for sin that we deserve.
And Jesus offers to fix our “busted” broken lives!
All we have to do is admit that we are a sinner – admit that yes, my life is like a “busted” frozen pipe, with water spraying all over the place! That’s my life. My life is a disaster. I do things that I know are wrong. I have done things I wish I hadn’t done. I’ve said things I wish I could take back. I have hurt other people, even though I haven’t meant to. I’ve sinned. I’m broken. My life is “busted” and needs help!
Jesus can help! Jesus can take your “busted” broken life and he can make it new!
Just like removing the busted pipe which was frozen and replacing it with a brand-new pipe – this is what Jesus does for us! Jesus takes away our old sinful nature … and Jesus gives us a brand-new nature deep inside our soul! That is amazing!
Jesus gives us new desires to do what is right! Jesus gives us a new kind of love like we’ve never had before! Jesus fills our life with his very presence!
Here you can see the pipes in the workshop which were frozen and “busted” a few years back. They are now wrapped with a warming electrical cord. And over top of it all, foam insulation protects it all!
So also, in the same way Jesus gives us a new life (aka: new pipes) and he fills us with his very presence! And over top of it all, the Holy Spirit is like the warming electrical cord & foam insulation protecting it all!
The Bible describes it this way: “If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” – 2 Corinthians 5:17
Does your life feel like a “busted” frozen pipe? Do you feel broken? Jesus can help!
Admit to Jesus that you are “busted” and broken … and that you need help! Ask Jesus to take away your old broken sinful self, and to make you new inside. He will! He totally will!
“As for you, you were dead [“busted” & broken] in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air [Satan], the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
“All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.” – Ephesians 2:1-5
