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A particular church received personal greetings from the Kejave Medical Center staff in Kenya and read of the following amazing story.
Eight-year-old Monica broke her leg as she fell into a pit. An older woman, Mama Njeri, happened along and climbed into the pit to help get Monica out. In the process, a dangerous black Mamba snake bit both Mama Njeri and Monica. Monica was taken to Kejave Medical Center and admitted. Mama Njeri went home, but never awoke from her sleep.
The next day a perceptive missionary nurse explained Mama Njeri’s death to Monica, telling her that the snake had bitten both of them, but all of the snake’s poison was expended on Mama Njeri; none was given to Monica. The nurse then explained that Jesus had taken the poison of Monica’s sin so that she could have new life. It was an easy choice for Monica. She became a Christian.
In 1 Corinthians 15, the Apostle Paul poses the questions:
“Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:55).
Then he answers: “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:56-57 NASB).
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), and “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
But God loves us so much that He gave His one and only Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24 ESV). Jesus suffered the “sting” of death so that we could receive the gift of eternal life. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
God will cleanse from sin and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7-9).
The Gospel – the Good News – is that Jesus “took the poison” of our sin by dying on the cross for our sins. He died for us so that we may have a new life now and eternal life to come.
Won’t you accept His offer of forgiveness and life by submitting your life to Him?
David A. Sargent
Creekwood church of Christ
Mobile, AL