STATUS UPDATE

Many social media sites have a window called - "Status Update" - where you insert your latest thoughts, feelings, or life-events that you wish to share with close friends or the world.  The following Status Update I would love to share with the world and will do my part while I still draw breath.

First I must inform the world of the original status or condition that influences everyone.  Because of the disobedience of one man, humanity fell out of love with God and in love with themselves.  In addition, all of humanity's tendencies since this mistake have been self-centered.  We have a nature that wants what we want, when we want it, and how we want it.  Therefore, because of this rebellion a colossal chasm resulted in the relationship between humanity and God.  

The leader of this rebellion is a spirit that was named Lucifer.  Many call him Satan, Devil, or Adversary now.  I call him stupid.  His future is the eternal Lake of Fire.  Desiring to hurt God as much as possible, this fallen angel deceived, lied, and tempted the first humans into a sick, cancerous, spiritual nature that would permeate everything.  The Scripture calls in Sin.

Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; (Romans 3:9-10)

Even Jesus speaks to the sinful condition everyone is born into when He said about Himself as the answer, 

"...whoever does not believe stands condemned already." (John 3:18)

and

"...whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him." (John 3:36)

Paul did an excellent job of describing humanity's condition and humanity's answer when he wrote to the believers in Rome.  So, allow me to step back and have you read his Holy Spirit-inspired words.

"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned-- for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law.  Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.  But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! - Romans 5:12-15

What leaps out from Paul's explanation, to me, is "death reigned...even over those who did not sin by breaking a command".  Here it is again.  This theme you will not be able to get away from in Scripture.  Our sinful nature haunts us no matter how good you think you have lived your life.  Once again, Paul says it best in his letter to Rome.

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."  (Romans 3:23-24)

The first part of this verse wastes no time in describing humanity's damned condition as we begin life.  The second part of the verse supplies us with The Answer we can choose, which is The Good News or Gospel.  

Much of this world is walking around damned with the answer.  Until we each genuinely accept what Christ did for us on a personal level our Spiritual Status Field is "Damned".  However, as those of us who have this "Damned" Status walk around, Christ has provided an Update - "Redeemed!"  Now that is a Status Update to share with the whole world!