Introduction:
A major problem in our nation today, and not a day goes by without it being mentioned in the news media, is corruption. All attempts to end it have proved unsuccessful as many people see nothing wrong with it. The reason is that they are always hearing that lying and cheating pays. We start hearing this through our much-acclaimed Anansi stories. The hero in these stories deceives, cheats, tell lies and is only concerned about his own wellbeing. He acquires what does not belong to him through deceitful means and is celebrated and admired as a wise and successful person. These Anansi stories have made cheating and corruption acceptable to many people and there are many Kweku Anansis in our midst who are being praised and celebrated. Since Anansi stories are part of our heritage we cannot discard them but the old Anansi can become a new Anansi who is honest and truthful, who is concerned about the welfare of other people, acts out of love and compassion and works hard to be successful. A new Anansi will impact our lives in a positive way and change the destiny of the nation. As a people, we need to embrace a righteous lifestyle and put an end to our sinful lifestyle and this is only possible when we heed the call of Christ to come to Him.
Step One: The call of Christ
a) To establish a relationship
Jesus Christ invites us to “Come to Him” to establish a relationship. We were created to have a relationship with God so that we could fulfil His divine will and purpose for our lives.
b) To free us from our heavy burdens
He calls us to free us from the heavy burdens that make life difficult and leads to death. In the case of the Jews they were tired with their unsuccessful attempts to obey the Law and the restrictions imposed on them by their religious leaders. They were tired of paying high taxes to the Romans and being compelled to serve them in various ways.
c) To reconcile us to God
Jesus Christ calls us to “Come to Him” to reconcile us to God. He calls us to come to Him and to no other person as He is the only way to the Father. The world thinks there are many ways to God just as there are many ways to Rome. Finding a way to Rome does not bring you to God. The truth is that there are many different situations, conditons and experiences that lead us to Christ who is only one way to the Father.
Illustration:
Jesus is still calling us today. Many people still have no relationship with Him and are carrying heavy loads. Many people are burdened with guilt, shame, and rejection, burdened with doubt and regret, and burdened with unforgiveness and bitterness. They are trying to meet the demands of the Law and the demands of some religious leaders. Only Jesus Christ can free us from these heavy burdens. The Law was not given to make us righteous although it is holy, just and perfect. It was given to reveal sin for without the Law we would not have known what sin is. When we find ourselves doing the very thing we hate it is the Law that reveals sin in us and our need for a Saviour.
Application:
The Law cannot make any one righteous as it requires the self-effort of man. Only Christ can make us righteous because it depends on what Christ has accomplished on our behalf.
Step Two: Salvation is God’s gift
a) We have all sinned
No man can fulfil the Law as of us have inherited Adams sinful nature for in Adam “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”. (Rom 3:23) We all deserve to die “For the wages of sin is death”. (Rom 6:23) but Christ took our place and died to pay the price for our forgiveness.
b) Christ paid the penalty for sin
Christ, who was without sin, was made sin and endured the full judgement of God on sin for us to be forgiven of our past, present and future sins “For by one sacrifice He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified”.
c) We are saved by grace
Our salvation does not depend on anything we have done but on what Christ has done for “By grace are we saved through faith, and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God”. (Eph. 2:8)
Illustration:
When we come to Christ He gives us rest. We have peace with God. When we take His yoke, and learn from Him we have rest for our souls. We have the peace of God. The yoke of the Law is “The ministry of death carved in letters on stone”. (2 Cor. 3:7) When we are identified with Christ and with His death we are dead to the Law and free to come under the grace of God. We are not able to keep the Law of Moses because it depends on what we do. Grace however, does not depend on us but on Christ. Christ has paid the full price for the forgiveness of sin. It is a price we could never pay and our forgiveness is made available by grace. “The Law was given through Moses, grace and truth through Jesus Christ” (John 1:19) When Moses gave the Law on Mount Sinai at Pentecost, 3000 people died. When the Holy Spirit came at another Pentecost 3000 people were saved
Application:
Why continue placing the Law which came through Moses, God’s servant, above grace and truth which came through Jesus Christ, the Son of God? To turn back to the Law after being saved by grace through faith is to fall from grace. Our lives should continue in the grace by which we were saved.
Step Three: The life of grace
a) A life of righteousness
At salvation, we receive a new nature and a new identity. Our new nature is the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus and our new identity is that of a child of God.
b) A new way of thinking
Our new status demands a new mindset and a new way of thinking. This new way of thinking is to agree with the Word of God and conform to it. It will be contradicted and opposed by the old mindset and can only be overcome when one is constantly reminded of the Word of God through the reading of Scripture, prayer and meditation.
c) A new direction in life
Our new status and new way of thinking leads to a new direction in life based on trust and obedience to Christ. It is a life of service to the needy, the poor and the hungry. It is a life of love and compassion towards the stranger, the grieving, the lonely, and the hurting.
Illustration:
Abraham believed and trusted God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness. He diligently sought the presence of God and had an intimate relationship with Him. His servant proved by his actions that he also believed and trusted God. On a mission to find a wife for Isaac He prayed to God and left the choice to Him. The servant knew the name of the family where he was going to find a wife for Isaac and could have asked for directions to the place. Instead he went to a well in the place and asked God to reveal the woman He had chosen as a wife for Isaac. He would recognize her by the way she responded to a request for water to drink. To fetch water for a stranger was an act of kindness but to go beyond that to fetch water for his ten thirsty camels was a clear confirmation of God’s choice of Rebekah as the wife of Isaac. A camel could drink as much as thirty gallons of water and to draw water for ten thirsty camels required the grace of God.
Application:
We need to believe and trust Christ to be the person He claims to be and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him
Conclusion:
The grace of God makes available to us all that we need to live the life of Christ. It is available to us not because of anything we have done but because of what Christ has done. We take what Christ has made available to us through faith and the just are to live by faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God and what we hear over and over again determines our destiny. Children have an intimate relationship with their parents and often end up becoming like them. It is what they hear and see in the home that often determines their destiny in life. Children of godly parents often end up being a blessing to their families and the society whereas those of ungodly parents end up destroying their families and the society in which they live. A mother and father of a seven-year-old boy and a five-year-old daughter returned home one day to hear their children shouting at the top of their voices. They entered the house and saw the maid cooking in the kitchen. What is happening here they shouted at her? She looked up at them and simply answered that they were only playing. What kind of play is that they angrily demanded. She looked up at them and answered that they were playing at being daddy and mummy.
Personal Response:
Our relationships determine what we see and hear and these are the things that determine our destiny. Let us come to Christ, take His yoke and learn from Him, take hold of all that His grace has made available to us through faith and live an abundant life to the praise and glory of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen!
