My dad texted me: “Do you have access to Cara Cara oranges?”
My dad and mom had just recently discovered the delicious goodness of Cara Cara oranges at their local Costco.
I texted back: “Why yes! I do in fact!” (with a photo of Cara Cara oranges in my cold box at home)
There is a difference between having access to Cara Cara oranges at Costco … and having access to Cara Cara oranges in my cold box at home. The oranges in my cold box at home personally belong to hubby and me. I can pick one up and enjoy its delicious goodness any time I want.
Having access to Cara Cara oranges at Costco means they are available for everyone … but each person must personally make the decision whether or not to pick up the oranges and put them in their cart … and bring them home.
When it comes to Jesus Christ, Jesus is available to everyone … just like the Cara Cara oranges are available to everyone at Costco. Everyone has access to Jesus Christ.
But each person must personally make the decision whether or not to trust in Jesus Christ. Each person must personally make the decision whether or not to surrender their life to Jesus Christ.
Each person must personally make the decision whether or not to allow Jesus into our life.
When we do make that decision to trust in Jesus Christ, to surrender our life to Jesus, to allow Jesus into our life … it’s just like picking up the oranges at Costco, putting them in our cart, and bringing them home with us. Imagine the price for the oranges had already been paid. Imagine they are free.
Jesus has already paid the price for our salvation. Jesus offers forgiveness for free. Jesus offers peace with God for free. Jesus offers entrance into Heaven for free. Jesus already paid the price.
When we have Jesus in our very life, we have access to all the goodness of God right in our very own soul. The power of the Holy Spirit is within us.
Just like I can go to the cold box in my home and enjoy the delicious goodness of a Cara Cara orange any time I want … the same thing is true when it comes to all the goodness of God. We have access to all the goodness of God any time we want.
When we are in a situation where we are confused and don’t know what to do … we have access to the wisdom of God. The Holy Spirit is right there in our life to give us the wisdom we need.
When we have turmoil in our soul … when we are overwhelmed with deep profound sadness and grief – we have access to the peace of God. The Holy Spirit is right there in our life to give us the peace and comfort we need. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, is with us!
When we are lied about, when we suffer the consequences of others stealing from us, when we are taken advantage of – we have access to the kindness of God. The Holy Spirit is right there in our life to give us kindness so that we can respond in grace and kindness.
When we are mistreated – we have access to the power to forgive. The Holy Spirit is right there in our life to give us the power to forgive.
We have access to the love of God. Freely God has poured out his love to us … and in turn, freely we are able to pour love out to others.
We have access to joy. The Holy Spirit will give us joy when we need it.
We have access to patience. The Holy Spirit will give us patience when we need it.
We have access to gentleness and self-control. When we are angry, fired up, with sharp, stinging retorts at the tip of our tongue, we have access to gentleness. We have access to self-control. The Holy Spirit will help us to control our tongue, control our anger, and have gentleness in response.
We have access to faithfulness. When others disappoint us and fail us, and everything in us want to “throw in the towel” and give up on the relationship … we have access to faithfulness. The Holy Spirit will soothe the pain in our soul from all the times in the past we’ve been hurt in the relationship. The Holy Spirit will give us the strength to forgive all over again (all those hurts which resurface all over again in our mind). And then forgive again, and again, and again. The Holy Spirit will help us to persevere and remain faithful. We have access. The power is right there available for us.
When it comes to this internal soul power, freely available any time we need it … do you have access?
When it comes to Jesus Christ … do you have access?
Everyone has access, in the same sense as having access to Cara Cara oranges at Costco. Every single person has access to Jesus Christ. Jesus is available to everyone!
“For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son [Jesus Christ] that whoever believes in him [Jesus Christ] shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16
In the sense of having access to Cara Cara oranges in the cold box of my home … where I can just grab an orange any time I want and enjoy the delicious goodness any time I would like … do you have access to Jesus Christ like this? Do you have access to the power of God like this?
Have you chosen Jesus personally for yourself? Have you trusted in Jesus personally for yourself? Have you invited Jesus into your life?
All the goodness of God is available for you. The power of God is available for you. It can be yours.
