f  Cycle of SinAugust 2003 As summer slips into slumber and fall folds into place, I am reminded once again of the cyclical nature of life. Life has many different kinds of cycles. People are born, mature, procreate, and die. Water evaporates to the sky and collects into dense storm clouds that rage and then rain out. Spring brings healthy leaves- and yet by winter the trees stand without their coats in the cold air. And what about the cycle of sin? Have we all not been assualted and exhausted by this very tumultuous hurricane? Have we not dreaded this cyclone that screams in our faces with the wind, dust, and rocks that it hurls at us? We have all faced this to some degree. We want to live as righteous and good people but we find ourselves constantly pulled down the drain of iniquity by our own wickedness. We try, fail, try again, and fail again. And so we hate ourselves, we hate how weak we are, and we despise ourselves. Guilt surmounts. We start to lose hope and wonder if we truly are capable of being "holy just as God is holy." We most earnestly desire to follow God's holy ways, but we grow frustrated with ourselves. We feel the intense struggle between good and evil that makes war inside the arena of our beings. This war involves beams of light that streak up towards God and evil intentions that pull us down into destruction. We are torn, and miserable for it. And we seek refuge. It should strengthen you to know that Jesus is our ultimate refuge. It doesn't matter who you are or what you've done in the past. You've lied, cheated, stolen, broken hearts, engaged in perversion, cursed, and enjoyed it to a certain extent. And you may feel guilty about what you've done and you continue to do. Do not fret! God wants to restore His relationship with you! He always embraces the ones who come before Him seeking help. Are you tired of your sinfulness and do you loathe it? Are you looking for ultimate comfort and restoration? Then pray to God of comfort and restoration, "Dear God! I need Your presence in my life!" You have a broken past full of mistakes. Presently you feel somewhat lost. And sometimes your future seems uncertain. Come to the God who heals the past, gives you direction for the present, and secures your future in His hands. Ask for the His strength as you wrestle the mighty cyclone. As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. (2 Samuel 22:31-33)  Chung Cho is just a guy who has some things to say about you and God. His opinions are not necessarily shared by those of the UCSU staff, workers, or anyone else who is not named Chung Cho. Chung speaks regularly at Little Spark rallies and has also struggled with the cycle of sin in various ways. |