WHAT MONEY CANNOT BUY: THE NEED OF EVERYMAN
Desires are common to men. Different persons have different desires. These desires are framed by different factors and experiences. To some, their desire is money . To another is health. To those in places with conflict, their greatest desire is peace and protection. We see that we are different in what we want. Among all of these desires and problems there is one thing that is common to all men. There is the greatest problem of man. It is what money cannot solve. It is the PROBLEM OF SIN.
Indeed all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). No one can say he is free from sin, whether the rich or poor, the healthy and the sick, the blacks and the whites. All have something to do with sin. This is a great problem of mankind. It is for this problem we have DIFFERENT RELIGIONS. Religion is man’s attempt to reach God. Different religions believe they must perform certain acts that will make them to be accepted before God. These religious activities are aimed at appeasing for man’s sins. Some religions believe when they confess their sins and do penance they will be forgiven. Others believe when they offer sacrifices and give alms their sins will be paid for . The truth is that all of these practices cannot solve the sin problem. “ For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” Hebrews 10:2.
Religion helps to maintain orderliness in the society. But there is something that is beyond religion. No religion on earth can assure you of afterlife. They leave everything to fate and mercy.
THE ORIGIN OF SIN ?
Sin was brought into the world by Adam. He disobeyed God’s instruction to believe and have life.”Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” Romans 5:12.
The sin that Adam committed brought death into the world.1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. So we know that the wages of sin is death. For anyone to pay for his sins he has to die. The wages of sin is not sorry or apology. It is death. This is why all the religious activities cannot pay for man’s sin.
WHAT THEN IS THE SOLUTION?
The solution is what money cannot buy. The solution is not in morality and the efforts of men. God saw that man cannot save himself so He came in Christ to die for man. The solution is the coming of Jesus. God demonstrated his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8). Jesus coming was to pay for man’s sin so man can have the life of God as originally intended by God. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23). So Jesus died for the sins of men so we can have the gift of God which is eternal life. This is the simple truth. This is what is beyond religion. It is what money cannot buy.
THE NEED OF EVERY MAN :BEYOND RELIGION
The need of everyone is beyond religion. It is beyond creed or activities. Religion has to do with an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods (Webster). There were several religions in the world before Jesus came. People have always formulated different ways to reach God. Every religion has set of rules, behaviours and practices they believe they can use to reach God. Every religion believes certain actions and practices can be used to appease God. There are core things that make every religion. For example, Every religion has DISPLEASED DEITY that can only be pleased with some practices but in Christ, God is forever pleased with man. Every religion has a sacred edifice, In Christ ,we are the temple of God. We bring God to any Church when we gather. Every religion has a SACRED TEXT. In Christ, what makes our book sacred is only that it reveals Christ. The Bible is the word of God ONLY because it contains the person of Christ who is the word of God. Religion deals with bondage, in Christ WE HAVE BEEN MADE FREE. Every religion IS MAN’S ATTEMPT TO REACH GOD. But in Christ, we see that GOD CAME LOOKING FOR MAN, even why we were yet sinners.
NOW YOU CAN CHOOSE TO BELIEVE AND HAVE THIS GREAT NEED MET
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:16-18. Jesus came to die for the whole world, but only those who believe in His death are saved. The condemnation is not the religion you belong to or what you do. The CONDEMNATION IS NOT BELIEVING IN JESUS. For example, if in a serious famine, a particular rich man goes to a restaurant and pay for the feeding of a village for one month. Then he sends some people to go announce to the villagers that the food has been paid for. Those who refuse to go will remain hungry even though the food is available. Others who are wise will eat and live. Certainly, those that eat not if they die, no one is to blame. They choose to die in hunger because they didn’t believe in the price. It will be foolishness to blame their death on the rich man. It was their choice. This is exactly the case of those who don’t believe in Jesus. They are already sentenced to condemnation unless they believe. God is not sending anyone to hell. He has made provision for safety in Christ. ANYONE WHO DOESN’T BELIEVE IN JESUS WILL SURELY BURN IN HELL FIRE. The good news is that, there is no need to go to hell when you can choose to believe in Jesus and go to Heaven. People go to hell for refusing to go to heaven. Notice In John 3, it is those that believe not in Jesus that are condemned, not those that sin. This is because He has paid for the sacrifice of sin. WHY CHOOSE TO SUFFER IN HELL WHEN YOU CAN GO TO HEAVEN. ACCEPT WHAT JESUS has done now if you have not and be eternally saved.
BY EMEKE MODESTY OBIAZIKWOR
www.emekemodest.com