April 24, 2020
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I saw this news story about a highly successful New York surgeon who volunteers a month every year to donate his services in needy countries. This particular summer, he'd had set up a tent clinic in the jungles of Costa Rica. In the middle of operating on a five-year-old boy, it became apparent this boy desperately needed blood. Problem: only 2% of the human race has that boy's blood type. Suddenly the doctor excused himself, only to return a few minutes later with the needed blood. It turns out that doctor is one of the 2% with that type! There, in the middle of that jungle, that boy's life could only be saved by one man's blood. Just like me.
I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "One Man's Blood."
That's a fact. This boy talking with you right now could only be saved by one man's blood. But then, that's your life, too.
Almost every religion on this planet recognizes that we're in trouble with the One who put us here, because we haven't lived up to whatever He's expected of us. And something needs to be done to pay for what we've done against Him.
Enter religion, with a list of things we need to do to get right with our Creator. Ceremonies. Sacrifices. Rituals. Good deeds to make up for our bad deeds. If you're like most of the human race, you're probably counting on your religion and the good things you do to have a happy ending with God when this life is over.
But we'd better check with God first on how to have our sin atoned for and how to get to his heaven. And here's what He says in Hebrews 9:22, "Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness." Wow! No blood, no forgiveness. No forgiveness, I carry a lifetime of my sin right into my appointment with God after my last heartbeat. And there's no way I'm getting into His heaven with my sin. No matter what religion I've practiced. No matter how many good things I've done.
Because the Bible says, "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). That's spiritual death as in eternal separation from God. And there's only one way a death penalty can be paid. There's no good things you can do to pay a death penalty. No, someone has to die.
And someone did! Here's the greatest, most important news you will ever hear in your life. It's in 1 John 1:7, our word for today from the Word of God: "The blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin." This is what's so amazing: I did the sinning, Jesus did the dying to pay for it.
So my life could only be saved by the blood of one man. Your life can only be saved by the blood of one man--Jesus, God's sinless Son, who loved you too much to lose you. Who shed His blood on a cross to pay the price for you to have every sin of your life erased. To make it possible for you to have a personal relationship with the God of the galaxies, and for you to go to heaven when you take your last breath.
So, look, you have no more important decision to make in your life than whether or not you will pin all your hopes on Jesus or whether you will walk away from His cross unforgiven. I ask you, please, don't risk one more day without Jesus. We just don't know how much time we have to get this settled. He's alive. He walked out of His grave. He's waiting for you to tell Him you're pinning all your hopes on Him.
You ready to get this settled and know that you are right with God for now - forever? Listen, I would urge you to get to our website today and see there how to make sure you belong to Him. That site is ANewStory.com. Nothing for you to join, nothing for you to go to. It is just about you and Jesus.
This is the only chance you can be sure of. So, please, don't miss Him.