Christian Living

TIME TO REBOOT

by Charles (Chuck) Robey
07/31/14
Free to Share
Author requests article critique

  Message Writer
  Hire Writer

Tweet

BOOT

 "Therefore say to them, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Return to Me," declares the LORD of hosts, "that I may return to you," says the LORD of hosts. (Zechariah 1:3)

Have you ever felt the need to "reboot" in your Christian life style ? Well, join the club.

The term "reboot" comes from computer usage. To reboot a computer is to start it up again after a computer crash. Hence, “reboot” has the connotation of starting a process over again.

Starting over again, they say. Feeling the need to start over again, in your Christian experience, is a normal reaction to life's hurtles. Like that old PC that keeps crashing for lack of capacity, we too may crash over life's habitual load. When this happens, it's time to reboot.

We believers oftentimes become over anxious about what's happening in our lives. The Bible promises, however, that God will meet our needs, if we will only seek Him (Matthew 6:33-34). God's grace will be sufficient to meet the challenges that each day may bring.

My son-in-law once gave my elder Dad a refurbished computer, thinking it may help Dad in getting over Mom's death. This idea worked well for a time. However, as Dad started losing track of time, he would call my son-in-law at all hours, when his new found PC friend stopped working. The classic response to Dad was, "Grand-Dad, do you know what time it is, it's 2:00 am. Just unplug your computer and plug it back. In other words, in computer language, just reboot.

The Bible is filled with many rebooting life experiences, down through the ages, starting with our first parents. When Adam and Eve fell from God's grace by sinning (Genesis 3:1-7), God personally covered them with garments of skin and clothed them (Genesis 3:21). This covering was God's provision for restoring Adam's and Eve's fellowship with Him. This slaying of an animal was the first Old Testament "Blood Sacrifice". And as a result of this first sin, all mankind is now born of inbred sin in need of redemption (Romans 5:12).

Consequentially, this first sin was the start of all humanistic sinful temptations. However, by God's grace we were offered a plan of escape (Romans 5:17-21), by way of the cross of Christ (John 3:16). Yes, by way of God's Sovereignty (Ephesians 1:8) , we may now be free of temptations results (1 Cor 10:13).

King David sinned with Bathsheba, Uriah's wife, by having a son by her. David then had Uriah placed in the fron of the battle, to have him killed as a cover up(2 Samuel 11:1-26). God was gracious, however, in David's prayer for forgiveness (Psalm 51:1-3). Nonetheless, David's sin caused him the lost of this child born to Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:4).

Samson was a "Nazirite" set apart to God from birth (Judges 13:5), yet he continually broke his vow by participating in the eating and drinking of certain forbidding food and drink rituals, along with having his hair cut. However, in his last act of aggression he showed repentance (Judges 16:28-30).

God gave Jonah a command (Jonah 1:2) but Jonah disobeyed His God (Jonah 1:13-17). However, after God got Jonah's attention, in the belly of a big fish, Jonah changed his mind (Jonah 2:2-9).

After being closely associated with our Lord for three years, the Apostle Peter actually denied that he ever knew Christ (Luke 22:54-62). Nonetheless,  he was forgiven (Luke 22:54-62) and went on to become one of the greatest proponents of spreading the gospel (Acts 2: 14-31) .

Two convicted thieves, hanging on crosses, were put to death alongside Jesus. The one cursed Jesus, while the second thief ask for and received forgiveness, as he hung next to Jesus on the cross (Luke 23:40-43).

One of the strongest testimonies in scripture is that of the Apostle Paul. God literally knocked him off his horse and struck him temporarily blind, as he was on the way to persecute and kill Christians. Paul would often begin his testimony by presenting the message of the Gospel (Galatians 1: 11-12). His testimony consist of persecuting the Christians (Galatians 1:13-14), his conversion (Galatians 1:15-16a) (Philippians 3:7), and his preaching (Galatians 1:16b -24).

And the list could go on and on.

I thank God for these stories. When we look at these characters, so full of failures, and how Christ "rebooted" them by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14), there is hope for every one of us. But remember, before Christ could fill them with the Holy Spirit in the newness of life (2 Cor 5:17), came the repentance (Jeremiah 3:22), by being humbled in their transgression against God. If we want to understand this, think on these four points. First, let us look at the devotion to God; (1 Samuel 12:24) next, at how they turned to living a life of self;(Hebrews 3:12-13) then, at their genuine repentance; (1 John 1:9) and last, at what Christ made of them by the Holy Spirit (John 14:26).

What about you, my friend ? Do you remember the old cliché, "You are the only Bible some people read"? Are your friends reading your human Bible ? You see, unbelievers can choose to ignore what the Bible says, but they cannot ignore what God has done in a persons life, if truly "rebooted" for Christ'(Isaiah 30:21).

Let your life reflect Jesus in you(Ephesians 4:4-6). And have a testimony ready at all times (1 Peter 3:15), how Jesus Christ changed your life(1 Cor 5:1). Not emphasizing how bad you were, rather how wonderful He is(Psalm 145:9).

What! You don't believe in all this religion stuff ? Let me just ask, "Do you feel that your single belief alone can change a LIVING GOD'S plans for this universe and all of mankind ? I think not !

What ! You feel that you are too good to be punished ? You're riches will help you survive ? Your family and friends will help you ? Not! (Ephesians 2:8-9). Simply put, being SAVED, and excepting God's SALVATION, is having a personal relationship with God, through His Son Jesus Christ, by having faith in God's free grace, plus nothing minus nothing.

Nearly 200 times faith (Hebrews 11:1), or belief, is stated as the single condition of God's fellowship, in the New Testament (John 1:12) (Acts 16:31). That faith must be placed in Christ as one's substitute for and Savior from sin. I realize that it is not easy to believe someone whom you have never seen about the most important matter of eternal destiny (John 20:24-25), but this and only this is the way to be saved.(John 20:29).

How does one get saved ? In the Christian doctrine of salvation, God has rescued us through Christ (John 3:17). Specifically, it was Jesus’ death on the cross and subsequent resurrection that achieved our salvation (Romans 5:10)(Ephesians 1:7). Scripture is clear that salvation is the gracious, undeserved gift of God (Ephesians 2:5,8) and is only available through faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12).

How do we receive salvation? We are saved by faith. First, we must hear the gospel—the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection (Ephesians 1:13). Then, we must believe and fully trust the Lord Jesus (Romans 1:16). This involves repentance, a changing of mind about sin and Christ (Acts 3:19), and calling on the name of the Lord (Romans 10:9-10, 13).

 "‘O Lord God, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as yours?(DEUTERONOMY 3:24)

 PLEASE VIEW MY WEB SITE BELOW AND SIGN UP FOR THE FREE NEWS LETTER:

http://ccrobey.wix.com/themessage