The word "convicted" is one that makes you think of a man standing before a judge in the courtroom, the gavel goes down, and the judge sentences the man to the crime for which he has been accused. In John 16:8, Jesus said when the Holy Spirit comes..."He will convict the world of sin." When the judge makes his ruling and the sentence resounds through the courtroom, the verdict is final. Reality then sets in and the man understands the seriousness of his crime.
Jesus has charged us to live above sin. He paid the sentence for you through the blood of the cross, though you were guilty. He did it so you could walk away a free man, without penalty. In John chapter 16 we are taught that mankind is running around without rules and restrictions, racking up penalties for crimes with no sense of remorse for how we are living spiritually. But in the quiet hour, the Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin.
When we lay our head down on our pillow at night, the Holy Spirit will whisper in our ear. When we step into the confines of the Church, the Holy Spirit will arrest our heart. When we pause at the red light, the Holy Spirit will convince us and reveal to us that there is in fact sin in our lives that requires repentance. It is in those quiet moments that we will know that the gavel is going down and the sentence will soon resound, if we fail to pray and ask God for forgiveness.
When we lay our head down on our pillow at night, the Holy Spirit will whisper in our ear. When we step into the confines of the Church, the Holy Spirit will arrest our heart. When we pause at the red light, the Holy Spirit will convince us and reveal to us that there is in fact sin in our lives that requires repentance. It is in those quiet moments that we will know that the gavel is going down and the sentence will soon resound, if we fail to pray and ask God for forgiveness.
Forgiveness is ours for the asking. The price has already been paid by the perfect Lamb, Jesus. We need only repent, turn from our current direction in life, and follow hard after Christ. Scripture teaches, "Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes unto the Father, but by Him." Your freedom from the sentence cannot be settled any other way. And today is the day of salvation, now is the accepted time. You have no guarantees that you can settle your account tomorrow. Tomorrow may never arrive. Be ready today.
