The Gospel and Mortgages

We have 2 mortgages. We have a house and a condo. We live in our 700 square foot, 1 bedroom, 1 bath, w/ a sun room (our soon to be 2 children's room) condo. We are bursting at the seams not to mention JK is working on building an elevator so come July I can get 2 children under the age of 16 months into our condo by myself ; ) Moving from our condo is dependent upon us selling our house. Not to mention we can't afford two mortgage payments. We've found ourselves this week in a place where God is drastically helping me understand the gospel more fully.

This week our renter told us they were leaving. UGHH. Our realtor told us that we need $20,000 to sell our house. Super UGHHH. We don't have anywhere close to $20,000 in savings. Nor do we have the credit to get a loan for $20,000 and if we did, we don't have the monthly payment to make payments on a loan for $20,000. So what do we need, we need a bank to lend us $20 grand, no interest, no payments for a few years. HA HA HA HA. We need GRACE. In other words we need a financial SAVIOR. We are in a situation that we in our own power or by our own means cannot redeem.

Now before you start to judge, I caution you that you do not know the whole story, I beg you, do not miss the point. Are we not all in a situation that by our own power or by our own means we cannot redeem.

The book of Romans tells us that we all know god from his creation, yet we have traded worship of the creator for created things (1:18-25). It also warns us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (3:23). It also declares that no one is righteous not even one (3:10). If you don't know Christ you should feel more hopeless, desperate, scared and overwhelmed than I do in our financial situation. You see without Christ you are condemned to hell (6:23). You are stuck- in a much more eternal way than I feel stuck.

In fact for the first time in my life I more fully understand how trapped in sin I was before Christ. It’s eternally more than the financial bondage I feel now. I cry in the shower. It's just what I do. It’s the only place you can cry without having to explain to someone what’s wrong! As I was weeping this morning because of feelings of financial desperation, God changed my heart and I began weeping in thanksgiving for Christ redeeming me of my sin. I finally understand a little bit more fully my desperation in my sinful nature and how thankful I should be for Christ. Today I am more thankful for Christ.

I don't know if a bank exists in the universe that will lend us $20,000 no interest, no immediate payments, no strings attached. But I do know a God of the universe who will redeem me from God's wrath and has made away for me to live and die free from the bondage of sin (Romans 3:24). And I don’t have to do anything. It is free!

The Way, is Jesus Christ. Not working hard, not having a revelation with God, not doing 7 steps, nothing by my own power can save me. Christ can and he can save you too.

So what should you do? Repent- turn from your sin and believe in Christ for your salvation (Acts 2:38). You are hopeless, desperate, and cannot help yourself, you need him. I beg you repent.

As for us, the gospel has saved us and the gospel helps us daily live holy lives. The gospel helps me trust God and focus on his glory rather than financial gloom. The gospel allows me to praise God in the midst of trial. It allows me to be confident that God is for me and he will provide for me. God is sanctifying me because of our trials and I pray that in the midst of our trial God will receive honor and Glory. In God's grace he holds me together. In God's grace he holds my marriage together. In God's grace he holds my family together. Praise to him for that!