The world needs Jesus, that's obvious. That is not what I am focusing on today. Yes, the world would be better if everyone put their hope, faith, and trust in Christ. That being said, even those who profess Christ can live a life we never imagined. Look at the example of Ravi Zacharius. I loved the teachings of RZIM. I have several of his books, one CD set of his teachings, I have listened to him on the radio and I've seen him in person. He had a global ministry, but the news was realized that he was involved in several sexual abuse cases, and was involved in several women outside of his marriage. Many of them he extorted and coerced. No one imagined that Ravi was guilty of these things, and from appearance, he didn't seem to have a problem with them.
Now, the easy solution is the quick answer. Stop doing bad things. Stop sinning, stop failing, stop being a sinner. That is the problem with quick and easy solutions, we can't. News flash, you are going to screw up and fail and do bad things. We can set a goal to be perfect, but it's an unrealistic goal. There is a realistic goal, and that is my one ingredient. The one thing that will solve so many issues and make things work the way they should.
Try to be better next time.
Seems simple, but let us unpack it, shall we. First, we excuse our bad behavior. In our society, we have just decided that our desires should always be followed. If we want it, we take it. If we want to do it, we do it. We have stopped thinking about cost and long term consequences. We make decisions that cause short term pleasure, long term pain. We drink too young, too much, and too often. We smoke early and often and a variety of things. We have sex before the relationship, the relationship before the maturity, and then the kids come before the wedding (which may never come). Our desires go first, our thought process comes later, if it comes at all. Kids grow up with parents who either have no clue or just don't care. The adults are so focused on getting all they want the kids have no chance. The kids become lazy, pleasure-seeking hedonists without a long term thought or goal.
We need to get our priorities straight. Get right with yourself, then get into a relationship, then get married, then have kids. That makes it better for everyone. I realize that you might have or will make a mistake. That is where the key comes in. If you make a mistake, learn from it and do better next time. We live in a society that is focused on making the same mistakes over and over. People aren't happy, they walk around depressed and miserable, making things worse for themselves by making the same mistakes and expecting a different outcome. If you want to find the right person, why do you keep dating the wrong kind of person? Why are you dating at all if you can't get right with yourself? Get things straight with you, get your life in order, then worry about a relationship. People don't because we want the good things without the work.
Life is work, so work at it. Do better next time. You are gonna screw up, you will fail. Don't beat yourself up or punish yourself, don't get stuck, and don't make an excuse to keep failing. Figure out what went wrong and fix it. Do better next time.
Now, let me speak to all the religious elite out there. I realize that if you consider yourself a religious elite, you are more than likely not reading my blog. If you do stumble upon it, it's time for you to show a little grace to those who are seeking to try better next time. Let's stop rubbing people's noses in things if they have confessed, repented, and moved on. Many people get stuck because they get stuck with a label. You tell someone they are a loser consistently enough, they will become a loser. If Jesus said "then I don't condemn you either, go and sin no more", why are we in the business of condemnation? We need to help those who need help, support those who need support, and encourage those who need encouragement. Speak the truth, but in a way that brings hope and healing. No one is so lost that they are beyond hope. If there was hope for a thief on the cross next to Jesus, anyone has hope.
There you go, my one thing to make your life and the world at large better. Just try better next time. Try to do the right thing. If you messed up in the past, set a goal not to mess up in the future. Get right, get forgiven, get going. You don't need to redeem yourself, if you are in Christ, you are already redeemed. Just set a goal to do it right next time. It will make a difference, I promise.
