A patient went to see his doctor, and after telling him of all his aches and pains, said, "Now, doctor, you have treated me long enough with your good-for-nothing pills. They don't reach the problem. I wish you would find the real cause of my ailment."
"All right," said the doctor, and lifting his cane he smashed the bottle of whiskey the man had brought in with him.
This was not what the patient expected, and at first it made him very angry. His pride had kept him from accepting the fact that his alcoholism was the root of his problem.
Have you ever wondered "Why?" "What is wrong?" Have you hungered and longed for something better? The efforts made to better your condition, the "pills" taken to correct the problem have not done any good. Again, "What is wrong?"
Open the Book of God if you wish an answer to the question. The Bible will be just as faithful as the doctor was, in revealing that the heart is full of sin and is the root of the problem. Don't be too proud to admit it.
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked." Jer. 17:9.
"Your iniquities have separated between you and your God." Isa. 59:2.
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." Rom. 5:12.
These are plain words, and what is more, they are true. Sin is the root of man's problems. Our social system is not the basic problem, as some think, nor lack of education, nor poor living conditions, as others think; it is SIN.
Now you and I will never be right or happy until this sin question is settled. There is only one who can settle it. His name is Jesus.
"Thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins." Matt. 1:21.
"For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit." 1 Peter 3:18.
His resurrection from the dead was proof that settlement had been made. The work of salvation was complete, finished. If you would get the benefit of it, you must trust the One who made it.
"What must I do to be saved?... Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:30,31.
He will never refuse you, for "him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37.
If you come, these are His words to you: "Be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee." Matt. 9:2.