From Fugitives to Faithful Followers

In Romans 3, the Apostle Paul compiles a batch of OT Scriptures that point out that we are all sinners, exiles and enemies of God, and fugitives from His law--His will, His Word, and His ways. The Reformers use the term "total depravity" to describe the fallen state of man, which began when our great-grandparents, Adam & Eve, sinned in the Garden. Their spiritual DNA of sinfulness was bequeathed to all humankind, and that includes us. Sin is the cosmic treason against God; it is the terminal disease that only leads to death. But is there hope for treasonous fugitives bound for death row? Paul provides that hope in Romans 3:23-24: "For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in His grace, freely makes us right in His sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins." (NLT) When it comes to Jesus Christ, do you love the Lamb or are you on the lam as a fugitive from Him? Do you picture Him hunting you down with a sword or with outstretched arms and pierced hands to free you from sin and make you His own? Do you see Christ pursuing you to execute you or to exonerate you? The time has come to stop running away from Him and start running to Him, with your heart in full surrender...