Jesus Is The Way- Learning About Deliverance From Sin
There is no escape from sin, but as Brad reminds us, Jesus is the way to deliverance! We must trust our lives to him, and receive His gift of salvation.
Black Flies And Bike Rides
I really enjoy a good bicycle ride, the sights and sounds, and the feel of a soft breeze against my face. To me, it’s the perfect combination of rather effortless exercise, with the panorama of everchanging scenery. A springtime bike ride in the country has an additional benefit. It brings temporary relief; an escape, from the insipient clouds of black flies.
I’m guessing many people in towns and cities across the country encounter blackflies and mosquitos only on long weekend camping excursions. My grown sons now live in Toronto, and have almost forgotten what it’s like; dealing with the clouds of tiny blood starved bugs that dominate the skies in the months of May and June in rural Nova Scotia.
First Bike Ride
One evening last week, I took advantage of a few spare moments, and topped up the air in my tires for my first bike ride of the season. I’d been working around the yard, and although I had seen blackflies in greater numbers on many occasions, they were still out in force enough for me to seek a reprieve.
Most pesky varieties of the fly and mosquito family have a pretty substantial ability to inflict serious discomfort from such tiny bodies; they do however come up short in the department of “high speed chase.” A few peddles on my bicycle and I was literally leaving all traces of these frenzied little creatures behind in the dust.
A Fresh Breeze
The forward motion was creating a nice breeze, washing over my itching face and arms like a healing balm. Instant relief. I peddled and coasted, coasted and peddled about 3 miles on the familiar and well-travelled dirt road, to a spot I typically call my “turnaround spot”. The elevation there is higher. The road opens up into a clearing, and it’s a great place to catch your breath, and enjoy the view that looks back over the hills toward home.
It was a warm and calm evening. The sky was cloudless, and still a bright blue. It was very quiet. How nice it would have been to spend a few moments there, resting up my bones, and soaking in all the beauty of the spring colors. But this would have to be reserved for August or September…. certainly not this time of year….at least not here.
No Escape
I began counting to see how long it would take. 18, 19, 20…. there was the first one…21, 22, 23, 24…a couple more…swat, swat…25, 26, 27…. ahhh yes, just what I expected. Within seconds, seemingly appearing out of thin air, blackflies were upon me. How did they know where to find me? I was 3 miles away from anything and anyone…. but there they were. My bicycle was calling to me, and with just a pedal or two I was off and away…. escaping that fresh frenzy of flies that had so quickly settled in around me.
As I peddled home I thought of the similarity between blackflies, and the black plague of sin; from which there seems no escape. You may think you can run from it, but no matter where you go, there it is. You can leave home, leave town, or leave the country, but all too soon you’re surrounded, engulfed, consumed. Like blackflies; sin gets into your eyes, your mouth, your ears and nose. It effects your arms, your legs, your entire body.
True, it’s effects are felt and displayed on the outside of your body, but it’s inevitably far more reaching. It’s power to destroy; unlike blackflies, works from the inside out. Sin and its effects worm their way into your mind, your heart, and your soul. Blackflies cannot always follow you, but sin is right there on your heels. It’s behind you, it’s in front of you, it’s all around you. There’s no escape from its presence. But, we can be assured that there is full deliverance from its power. God’s word gives us that hope, and the promise that is for all.
Jesus Is The Way
When Jesus bowed his head on Calvary’s cross and said “it is finished”; he delivered all who call on him from the stronghold of sin, from the sting of death, and from the ensuing punishment tied to sins curse. Jesus provided a way of escape, the ONLY way. Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth and the LIFE, no man cometh unto the Father buy by me”. John reminds us that Jesus is the “propitiation for our sins, but not for our sins only, but for the sins of the entire world”.
In this life, we may “pedal away” from our sins for a short while, but ultimately we cannot be delivered from them, without entrusting our lives to God, through Jesus Christ his son. The titles are rightfully his, and his alone. Deliverer, Redeemer, Savior.
The bible tells us “He became sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might become the righteousness of God in him”. His gift of deliverance is for all people, past, present and future.
As a Christian, as a child of God, as a follower of Jesus Christ, I am so thankful that “the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, has made me free from the law of sin and death”.
It’s succinctly stated in Hebrews 2:3 “ How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation.”?
Have you responded to God’s call? We would love to hear from you. Comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.
Brad Hewey
Brad offers up practical, scriptural advice from a perspective borne out of everyday life encounters. As we live and move and have our being…it’s the individual life lessons that most often present the greatest challenges, but can yield the richest blessings. We’ve all, as Christians had those faith-affirming moments, where we’ve had an overwhelming sense of God’s spirit, or his very presence “at a particular but, maybe random time”.
Brad was born and still resides in a small community in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia, where he and his wife Karen raised their 3 children. Brad & Karen fellowship at the Greenland Bible Chapel, where Brad serves as an elder.
Brad loves meeting and engaging with people. His background in sales has provided opportunities to travel throughout the US and Canada, networking with people from all walks of life. Brad is a singer/songwriter and has recorded 3 Christian albums. Songs from his “Brighter Day” release, have aired on Christian Radio stations across Canada and two of Brad’s albums are on HopeStreamRadio’s playlist.
More Podcasts Below:
More Blogs:
To Tell the Truth – Honesty is the Best Policy
I Am the Resurrection and the Life
Images Courtesy Of:
Hiking- FelixMittermeier
Bike- tookapic
Person- Wokandapic
Cross- bykst
Leave a Reply