[ca_audio url_mp3=”http://www.buzzsprout.com/3192/163499-glmx-190-cold-war.mp3″ url_ogg=”” download=”true” align=”none”] This is the “chief of sinners,” Daniel Whyte III, president of Gospel Light Society International, reminding you of what the Bible says, that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” like you and me. Over the past few weeks, as the world watched the tense situation in Ukraine, numerous analysts, experts, officials, and politicians likened the divide between Russia and Western nations to the conditions of the Cold War. After World War II, Russia and the USSR maintained a long period of conflict with the United States and European nations. During this time, there was not an all-out war between the two blocs, but both sides built up military capabilities and tried to undermine the other side in numerous ways including through economic sanctions, propaganda, and espionage. For many years, the Iron Curtain divided these two sides ideologically — on the Eastern side were nations under Communist control, and on the Western side were free countries under democratic governments. In the late 1980s, a wave of change began to sweep across the European continent and culminated with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The conditions of the Cold War are a compelling metaphor for the division that exists between sinful men and a holy God. God wants to have a good relationship with all people. He wants to be on friendly and peaceful terms with us. However, sin rises between us and God like an iron curtain shutting us off from God’s blessings. Foolishly, many people cling to their sin. They know that they should get right with God, but they don’t want to give up the way they have been living, so a separation between them and God continues. One day, if things are not made right, the separation will be permanent, and that poor soul will never have another chance to get right with God. Because God loves us and does not want us to be separated from Him forever, He took the first step in tearing down the wall between us and Him. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” God sent His Son Jesus Christ to earth to die on the cross for our sins — taking the punishment that we deserve — so that we would have the opportunity to believe in Christ, have our sins washed away, and have a relationship with God. Ephesians 2 says, “Now in Christ Jesus, ye who once were far off have been brought nigh by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us.” For each of those who have chosen to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior, this passage goes on to say, “Now therefore, ye are strangers and foreigners no more, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” Hundreds of years ago, in the Jewish temple, there was a thick curtain that hung in front of a space referred to as the Holy of Holies. This space represented the presence of God among His people. However, the thick curtain represented the separation between humans and God. The Bible tells us that when Jesus died on the cross, there was a great earthquake, and the curtain in the Temple ripped in half from top to bottom. The tearing of the curtain showed that there did not have to be any more separation between man and God. Through Jesus Christ, anyone can approach God and receive forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life. Would you like to receive forgiveness for your sins, salvation from the eternal punishment for your sins, and eternal life with God in Heaven? Do you want to tear down the iron curtain that your sins have built up between you and God? If so, allow me to share with you three simple steps that you need to take to give your life to Christ and begin a relationship with God today. First, accept what God says about you and admit that you are a sinner. Romans 3:10 says, “There is none righteous, no, not one.” When it comes to being a sinner, we are all in the same boat. Second, understand that the punishment for sinning (breaking even one of God’s laws) is death and eternal separation from God in a place called Hell. Romans 3:23 says, “the wages of sin is death.” Ezekiel 18:20 says, “The soul that sinneth it shall die.” God sent Jesus to save us from this death. Third, believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins, shed His blood in our place, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God. First Corinthians 15:3-4 says, “…Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” Fourth, accept Jesus Christ’s invitation to be forgiven of your sins and receive eternal life by inviting Jesus Christ into your life by faith as your Savior from sin’s consequences. Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” If you trust Jesus Christ for salvation, you will be saved from sin, spiritual death, and hell, and you will begin a relationship with God that will last forever. If this is your heart’s desire, you can pray a short prayer to let God know about your decision: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I now believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today and forever. Amen. If you just trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and you prayed that prayer and meant it from your heart, I declare to you that based upon the Word of God, you are now saved and you are on your way to Heaven. Welcome to the family of God! I want to congratulate you on doing the most important thing in life and that is receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Believe by faith. Share the faith. And keep the faith! God Bless You MUSICAL SELECTION: “Restart” by Newsboys Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in twenty-three foreign countries. He is the author of thirty-four books. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry which publishes a monthly magazine called The Torch Leader. He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts, The Prayer Motivator Devotional and the Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report and the Second Coming Watch Update. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, and a Master’s degree in Religion from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica for twenty-five years. God has blessed their union with seven children. Find out more at www.danielwhyte3.com. Follow Daniel Whyte III on Twitter @prophetdaniel3 or on Facebook.
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