Friday, August 1, 2008

Redemption

Redemption is a word that has been spit at me for years, ever since I could talk I remember the word redemption being put in my vocabulary. I never knew what it meant, just that it was a strong word pretaining to Jesus and Christianity.

So in the last year I have been redone, I have been changed completely (read all my notes for more details), and I have been redeemed. It's been a journey in which I see light and dark, death and life. A story where there is heartache and good times, nightmares and paradise. A path that has a side of the road with a picture of me on my knees with blood on my head and a side with a picture of me with a hammer in my bloody hands.

But tonight is a night to remember for as long as I breathe. I sat down at 1030 tonight and put "The Shawshank Redemption" in the DVD player. For the next 2 hours and 15 minutes I sat in wonder as a masterpiece was played in front of my eyes. A story that showed a journey of an innocent man who was convicted to 2 life sentences in prison. A journey which would lead him to find who he was. Theres a quote in the movie which is playing over and over in my mind...

"I guess it comes down to a simple choice really... to get busy living, or get busy dying."

This is where I was a year ago. I had a choice to embrace what Jesus Christ was showing me, showing me that life was in Him and only Him, or I could fold and get into a life of lust and hatred. A life of satisfying my flesh or fufilling the price for love that Jesus Christ gladly paid.

The word redemption means, "the act of buying back what someone previously sold." What that shows me that when Adam and Eve sinned, there became a gap between us and God. A gap that only the death of Jesus Christ on the cross could fill. A gap which IS IMPOSSIBLE for us to reach God and Heaven without embracing the love and will of Jesus Christ.

So when they sinned, the beautiful gift of life with God was shattered. And only by Jesus Christ dying and his blood being shed over us are we saved. Without that we are going straight to hell. Straight to burn for eternity. Our lives with Christ were sold because of sin and get this...

WHEN CHRIST DIED. HE BOUGHT BACK OUR LIVES... WITH HIS BLOOD!

Jesus Christ gave us the gift of redemption. The gift of Him giving us a chance to erase our past lives NO MATTER WHAT WE HAVE DONE... and living in paradise with Him forever. No matter if you were into porn (as I was), cheating, lying, stealing, KILLING, sex. It DOESN'T MATTER! God sent HIS ONE AND ONLY SON to come and die so we could live.

And I believe with a strong passion that anyone who sees the profound truth of Christ's gift of redemption CANNOT deny Jesus Christ. If that message is delivered with confidence and passion, no can pass it up.

Redemption is a word that I believe could shock a generation.

I believe that Jesus Christ put a passion in my heart to share the gospel and show people the life He promises them. Jesus Christ, The KING of the World, put a firery passion in my heart that this generation would grasp the idea of REDEMPTION and LOVE and change the course of this world forever.

That there would be group of teenager who would defy the odds of every adult who ever lived AND PROVE THAT THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST IS BETTER THAN ANYTHINGTHE WORLD HAS TO OFFER.

Any physical satisfaction that Satan can dish can never satisify a person's God-shaped whole in our lives. A person with everything... money, fame, lust... dies alone. Look at all the celeberties that have ended their life because they were so unhappy.

I pray that one of these days a person is seen who is so dedicated and in love with Jesus Christ that He or She will die without a moment hesitation. That my generation is not the sex-crazed, perverted horrible kids that everything things we will be. I pray that our generation is full of Bill Brights, Billy Grahams, and Josh McDowells who challenge what Satan convinces the world is truth, and strives to give their lives for the beautiful gift and truth of Christ Jesus our Lord.

That movie I watched just hours ago proved that hope in a life without pain is real. That even convicted murderers can experience REDEMPTION. That the gift of life is there for anyone who says yes to Christ and invites Him in to have a personal relationship.

PLEASE PRAY FOR ME. PRAY THAT THIS PASSION GOD HAS PUT IN MY HEART BURNS UNTIL THE DAY I DIE. PRAY THAT THE LORD USES ME TO IMPRESS HIS WORD ON ROBINSON HIGH SCHOOL AND BEYOND. PRAY THAT I STAY CHRIST CENTERED AND REMEMBER I AM NOTHING AND HE IS EVERYTHING.

The lyrics of the August Burns Red song, "Redemption" are swimming around in my head and have been for about three days straight. Here are the words of a life changed completely by the love of Jesus Christ. These words describe my feelings and my heart and what the last year has been like and what has all gone through my head and I have felt in my heart. I encourage you to go listen to this song or download on iTunes after you read these. (It's a screamo song, but look it as a chance to see the beauty of this music... no matter how hard it is to listen to it at times).

Redemption: By, August Burns Red
I trust in you for life to live, and air to breath.
Purity fills my lungs.
I no longer live in solitude.
No longer bound.
My heart beats with great devotion.
This is the start to a new beginning.
On my knees praying for mercy.
Hands raised high, humble and broken.
Wanting your grace.
Wanting your security.
Memories of laying facedown, motionless, with such a hollow feeling inside.
Soon I would end this life I was living.
I am just a man with a heart and sinful hands.
I am a fallen victim.
Lord, show me the way.
I ask of you Father, let my words be your words.
Let my thoughts be your thoughts.
To you, I give my praise. Show me the way.
Take me in your arms.
Never let me go.
Lord, show me the way, as I give myself to you.
Never let me go.
Hold me with your everlasting love.
Be my strength. Be my voice. Be my glory. Set me free.

I think that last line might just be tattooed on my wrist for forever the day I turn 18. It is my prayer put into the words for every person on this earth to hear and read.

Once and for all eternity. Amen.

2 comments:

garethpatterson said...

such a great song. my favorite part is "let my words be your words! let my thoughts be your thoughts!"
amen brother. i posted one. its very general. i couldnt think of a good first post so i just threw some thoughts out there.
I'll have a lot of good stuff on there soon though.

Petrus said...

Hey man. Thanks for the comment on the blog. It's cool that you're getting your stuff on a blog. It's a lot easier than facebook. I used to have my stuff on myspace. But, I soon took it off. Well, anyway, it's true, it's refreshing to see someone actually an interest for something real. I'll add myself as follower to your blog. You should do the same. My e-mail is petrusreis@gmail.com. Yours?