It’s hard to stay friends with someone who doesn’t tell you the truth. After all, how can you trust a liar? Your God loves the truth and tells you the truth—even when it’s hard to hear. Today’s message is hard to hear.
“What your corrupt nature wants is contrary to what your spiritual nature wants, and what your spiritual nature wants is contrary to what your corrupt nature wants. They are opposed to each other. As a result, you don’t always do what you intend to do. If your spiritual nature is your guide, you are not subject to Moses’ laws. Now, the effects of the corrupt nature are obvious . . .” (Galatians 5:17-19).
Paul, the man who wrote these words from God, was writing to people who lived in a place called Galatia. (Today, it’s the country of Turkey.) This was a personal letter to them, so he listed the sins the people who lived over two thousand years ago struggled with. Some sound an awful lot like ours today: hatred, rivalry, jealousy, angry outbursts, selfish ambition, conflict, cliques, and envy.
Then Paul continued, “I’ve told you in the past and I’m telling you again that people who do these kinds of things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (verse 21).
Did you really want to hear, “You aren’t a good person and if you give in to the part that wants to do evil things, well, no heaven for you”? I didn’t think so. Still, if it’s in his Word, God thinks it’s important for you to know because if you kid yourself and think you have any good in you on your own, you might think you don’t need a Savior. And you really, really need a Savior. The good news is that you have one. His name is Jesus. He’s changed your life. He’s changed the way you live.
