Ruin: January 11, 2013

TODAYS WORD FOR FRIDAY JANUARY 11, 2013

RUIN

DEFINITION:

A moral or physical collapse; downfall, decay or destruction.

SCRIPTURE:

You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. John 8:44

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

The words of John 8:44 (above) were spoken by Jesus as a warning to us that Satan is a liar and a murderer. It was Satan that was the ruin of man. Man today would have to be spiritually blind, deaf and mute not to know that the whole world lies under the sway of Satan the wicked one. The verse in I John 5:19 reads, "We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the control of the wicked one."

In this verse from I John God reveals two classes of people. First, there are those who are no longer spiritually blind, deaf or mute to God's message. They are saved by the grace of God and know that they are the children of God.

Secondly, there is a whole world of unsaved souls that lies in the hands of the evil one, Satan. They are under his control. Satan is the father of the wicked and the one that has ruined mankind. Every nation, every tribe, every family, the rich and the poor, the educated and the uneducated, all participate in the ruin of man because we all have a common origin in Adam. We all share a common heritage, a common legacy and that is the ruin of man. When Adam fell we all fell and we are children of the devil until we become children of God.

The Bible clearly tells us that because of the sin of Adam and Eve, "The wages of that sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life." (Romans 6:23) Death is universal because the ruin is universal. But thanks be to God, the gift He gave to us, for the asking, is eternal life through Jesus Christ His Son and our Lord. 

Yes, because of the sin of Adam and Eve, mankind was ruined but in Jesus we have complete redemption. Peter reassures us of this in I Peter 1:18-19 where it reads, "Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot."

As one who believes in Jesus you can rest assured that your ruined life is no longer ruined. Your life has been redeemed. Praise be to God, “He has rescued us from (Satan’s) dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13.  Now you need to do all you can to become more Christ-like every day and love and serve God as you never have before.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Genesis 1:1.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

PRAYER:

Thank You dear God that You have provided for me salvation for my ruined life. Help me to love and serve You this day to the best of my ability. Take me out of the habit of living my life to please myself. Help me to surrender to Your will so You can lead me to accomplish what You want from me today.