Every day we are faced with many different advertisements. A lot of research and money is put into advertising today. Did you know that God uses advertising too? God wants you and me to have no excuse for not knowing and trusting Him. (Romans 1:18-20.)
God is producing new advertisements about Himself every day!
In the past God set up a permanent advertisement to make people know about Him and His great power - God's wonderful CREATION! Everyone can see that there must be a God of great power and glory when they consider the creation all around them. (Psalm 19:1-4. John 1:1-3.)
Later God made Himself known in an even clearer way. After having sent many messengers or preachers, He then came HIMSELF in human form. God became flesh and dwelt among us as Jesus Christ - but was unrecognised by many. (Hebrews 1:1-3. John 1:14, 10.)
Jesus was not an advertisement for God, He WAS GOD; God the Son. (John 1:1-2.)
Just before Jesus was made known, God sent John the Baptist to advertise Jesus' greatness. "He came as a witness." (John 1:6.) "The Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask John who he was... 'I am not the Christ,'" he told them. (verses 19-20.) "I am the voice of one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'" (verse 23.)
John informed the people of the LIGHT that was coming. "He himself was not that LIGHT, he only came as a witness to the LIGHT.. that through him all men might believe." (John 1:7-8.)
John could not remove the darkness of sin that surrounded and ruined people's lives - but he could advertise the only LIGHT for sinful mankind. People today still need to know how to have the darkness of sin removed from their lives. And that darkness seems to get worse - "every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity... envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice." (Romans 1:18-32.)
The good news is that the Creator God Himself came as the LIGHT and LIFE mankind needed to take away their sinful darkness.
Our only hope is to trust in Jesus Christ to save us - to turn us from darkness to light, and from Satan to God. (John 5:24. Acts 26:18.)
Beware of any today who claim that they are able to take away the darkness of sin from your life by their words and actions. Such people are not advertising Jesus the Saviour, they are trying to take the place of Jesus Christ! (Matthew 24:4-5. 7:21-23.) Remember an advertisement does NOT take the place of the product - If it did you would not need or want the product, the advertisement would do!
Are you going to be one of those who put their trust in Jesus Christ as Saviour from the sinful darkness of their lives? Each day more people come to believe this good news and are saved by faith in Jesus. They become God's new advertisements showing others by their new life in Christ that Jesus really has put away their sinfulness. (Ephesians 4:17-5:21. Philippians 2:12-18.)
Are you an advertisement for Jesus, the LIGHT and Life for mankind? (Matthew 5:14-16. Acts 8:1-4.)
Read about John the Baptist advertising for Jesus in John's Gospel chapter 1, verses 19-28.
John Nixon, Cork, Ireland. P31HD98. Contact: jnixonj@gmail.com
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