Broken (KJV)

Computers are all around us all day, everyday. We use them for business and recreation. They’re on our desks, in our pockets or hands and we take them for granted without much thought. If you think about it though, they’re a lot more like us than we realize. For example, we were created perfect just like a brand new computer has nothing wrong with it: “And God saw every thing that He had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day” (Genesis 1:31). But just like choosing to install something or going somewhere that could infect your computer with a virus or piece of malware, Adam, the first man, chose to do his own thing and disobey God. “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:16-17). “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat” (Genesis 3:6). Because of Adam’s decision we all have this thing called sin that is part of our nature. “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: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of Him that was to come” (Romans 5:12-14). Just like a virus on a computer produces symptoms like pop ups and system instability, there are symptoms of our nature. “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man” (Mark 7:21-23). Similar to the negative effects of a virus or malicious software, this sin nature we have has dire consequences.  “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him” (Ezekiel 18:20).  “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death” (Revelation 20:12,14). Just like an unaware person with an infected computer, our efforts to fix ourselves are equally ineffective: “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6). “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10). Even though we’ve sinned against God and deserve the consequences, God loves us and has made a way that we might be delivered from sin and restored to Him. “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” (John 3:16). “But He [Jesus] was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed” (1 Peter 2:24). “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified” (Hebrews 10:10-14). “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us” (Hebrews 9:12). Just like a technician can only fix your computer if you bring it to him, Christ can save you only if you come to Him. Just surrender your life to Him—He wants to give you new life and save you from your sin and its consequences—eternal death in hell.  This surrender has two sides—repentance and faith. Repentance is like realizing you have a computer issue and not ignoring it or putting up with it, but seeking a solution for it. It’s a change of direction or desire in the heart that turns to God and away from sin. It’s not turning over a new leaf or promising to be better, but realizing that you have an issue that you can’t fix. “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7). “Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye” (Ezekiel 18:31-32). “For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9). Faith is like trusting someone to fix your computer. It’s depending on Christ and His sacrifice alone for salvation and trusting Him alone to save you from sin and hell. There’s nothing you could do or add to what Jesus did. Just simply trust Jesus to fix the brokeness of sin. “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 with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10). “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37). “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John 1:12). Sources Used: O’Donnell, Andy. “5 Signs Your Computer Might Be Infected With Hidden Malware.” About.com Tech. 30 Dec. 2014. Web. 25 Nov. 2015.