Elsewhere on this site, you read about the release of Robyn Graham’s new book, He Touched Me. Her compelling story is one of courage and perseverance through a childhood of abuse and it shows the faithfulness and steadfastness of God whose hand leads us from darkness into the light of His love. At the end of the book, she gives guidance to those who may still be on a spiritual path to find God.
Let me tell you about a road that may be able to help you in the right direction: the Roman Road. It’s comprised of verses from the book of Romans in the Bible. These are some of the verses that went straight to my heart that day, nearly twenty years ago, when my college roomies decided to “practice” their soul winning skills on me…
For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard (Romans 3:23)
1. The first step along the path to your Heavenly Father, is realizing that you’ve messed up. We all have. God has high standards that we can’t possibly reach on our own.
For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).
2. As tough as the first step is, the next step is full of GRACE — God’s grace in giving us what we could never earn or deserve. This is where we accept God’s free gift of life!
So now, there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of His life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death (Romans 8:1, 2).
3. Once we accept God’s free gift, He releases us from all the guilt, cleanses us of the stain, and gives us power over the sin that once reigned in our lives.
What can say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since God did not spare even His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, won’t God, who gave us Christ, also give us everything else. Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for His own? Will God? No! He is the one who has given us right standing with Himself. Who then will condemn us? Will Christ Jesus? No, for He is the one who died for us and was raised to life for us and is sitting in the place of highest honor next to God, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death? … No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from His love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels can’t, and the demons can’t. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away (Romans 8:31-38).
4. What else is there to say? Nothing will ever separate you from Christ’s love! Ever! Despite all that we’ve been through, His love was there. I know it’s hard to see at times. Sometimes it’s just plain impossible to believe that God’s love was there in the crud of our lives. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? No! Nothing. Just because there is junk in our lives, does that mean He no longer loves us? Again, No! Once you’ve truly realized that in your heart, there’s just one more thing to do…
For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved (Romans 10:9, 10).
You’re standing before your Heavenly Father now and maybe there is something stopping you from running into His open arms. Maybe you are angry at how your life has been thus far. Maybe you have a mind and a heart full of questions and things that need to be said. Say them. Yell them. Cry them. He can take it. He is a big God, and I assure you, He can take it. He wants you to come to Him no matter the cost. Say whatever needs to be said but come to Him. Let Him wrap His arms around you. Let Him tell you how glad He is you’ve come. Let His tears mingle with yours as He tells you how sad He’s been at your pain. He really has, you know. He really has.