This casual cliche, with all its common connotations, is as characteristically Australian as meat pies and Holden cars. And the expected response is often altogether too predictable, no matter how critical the real situation might be. Because sometimes things are just not right at all. We all too often have real hurt and pain. But we pass as ships in the night, without meaningful contact or communication. We seem determined to fly as a facade the flag of self-sufficiency. And so we plot our course. posing as confident captains of our own ships and masters of our own fate, until our bravado and false pride finds us floundering on the rocks and reefs of some personal calamity.
The terrible trouble of such personal isolation seems to be the price we pay for the privilege of living in cur hurry and worry world. And this is bad enough. But the greatest tragedy of all lies in the common response today to the question, "Are you right mate? Right with God?"
The Creator of our universe and the coming Judge of all mankind insists that we come to grips with this all Important question in the here and now or we will surely suffer eternal shipwreck in the there and then. It will not suffice to ignore, delay or make excuse. Well may one tell a concerned Christian to, "Mind his own religion," but such a response to the King of this universe is not only daft, but dangerous.
God has given us one prime responsibility during our brief existence here on earth. The prophet Amos placed it plainly and pointedly when he said, "Prepare to meet your God..." (Amos 4:12) Since our time is in His hand and this is the day that He has made, we only have the time Cod chooses in His grace to give us in which to find His answer to this vital question.
But how does one make sure of a right relationship with God? First, we must face the fact of our position. The Bible teaches that God is Holy and that man is not. Al! men are sinners. (Romans 3:23) And the ultimate end of our sinful conduct will be eternal separation from God, unless some effective intervention occurs. (Romans 6:23)
Next, we must realize that all our efforts to bridge the chasm separating us from our Creator are vain and futile. Our natural tendency is to trust our own abilities, righteousness and the work of our own hands. So some are christened, confirmed, baptized or join a church; all the while unwilling to admit their obvious dismal failure in living uprightly and keeping the golden rule. From the outset all such efforts are doomed because God says there is none righteous, no not one and that all our pretended righteousness are as filthy rags when compared to the holiness and righteousness of His Son, Jesus Christ (Isaiah 64:6, Romans 3:10) After all if we could, through our own energy and effort, make ourselves right with God, why did Jesus die on a cruel cross to pay our sin debt? Peter said Christ suffered once for our sins, the perfect one for the imperfect one, so He could bring us to God.
Just how then can one be right with God? If we can only stand in the Holy presence of a Holy God if we are without sin, how can we acquire such perfect righteousness? Paul had the answer and the Holy Spirit of God Inspired him to share it with us In the Bible. He said, "God has made Jesus to be sin for us, He who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." (II Cor. 5:21) "Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" ( Romans 5:1) Then he said, "If you believe your heart in the Lord Jesus Christ you shall be saved...for whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:9 &13))
Are you sure you are right with God? You can be. How? Simply repent of your sin, place your absolute faith and trust in Jesus Christ as your sin sacrifice, call upon His Name, ask Him into your heart to be your personal Saviour and receive His gift of everlasting life.
The terrible trouble of such personal isolation seems to be the price we pay for the privilege of living in cur hurry and worry world. And this is bad enough. But the greatest tragedy of all lies in the common response today to the question, "Are you right mate? Right with God?"
The Creator of our universe and the coming Judge of all mankind insists that we come to grips with this all Important question in the here and now or we will surely suffer eternal shipwreck in the there and then. It will not suffice to ignore, delay or make excuse. Well may one tell a concerned Christian to, "Mind his own religion," but such a response to the King of this universe is not only daft, but dangerous.
God has given us one prime responsibility during our brief existence here on earth. The prophet Amos placed it plainly and pointedly when he said, "Prepare to meet your God..." (Amos 4:12) Since our time is in His hand and this is the day that He has made, we only have the time Cod chooses in His grace to give us in which to find His answer to this vital question.
But how does one make sure of a right relationship with God? First, we must face the fact of our position. The Bible teaches that God is Holy and that man is not. Al! men are sinners. (Romans 3:23) And the ultimate end of our sinful conduct will be eternal separation from God, unless some effective intervention occurs. (Romans 6:23)
Next, we must realize that all our efforts to bridge the chasm separating us from our Creator are vain and futile. Our natural tendency is to trust our own abilities, righteousness and the work of our own hands. So some are christened, confirmed, baptized or join a church; all the while unwilling to admit their obvious dismal failure in living uprightly and keeping the golden rule. From the outset all such efforts are doomed because God says there is none righteous, no not one and that all our pretended righteousness are as filthy rags when compared to the holiness and righteousness of His Son, Jesus Christ (Isaiah 64:6, Romans 3:10) After all if we could, through our own energy and effort, make ourselves right with God, why did Jesus die on a cruel cross to pay our sin debt? Peter said Christ suffered once for our sins, the perfect one for the imperfect one, so He could bring us to God.
Just how then can one be right with God? If we can only stand in the Holy presence of a Holy God if we are without sin, how can we acquire such perfect righteousness? Paul had the answer and the Holy Spirit of God Inspired him to share it with us In the Bible. He said, "God has made Jesus to be sin for us, He who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." (II Cor. 5:21) "Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" ( Romans 5:1) Then he said, "If you believe your heart in the Lord Jesus Christ you shall be saved...for whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:9 &13))
Are you sure you are right with God? You can be. How? Simply repent of your sin, place your absolute faith and trust in Jesus Christ as your sin sacrifice, call upon His Name, ask Him into your heart to be your personal Saviour and receive His gift of everlasting life.
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