Killer!

Caleb was born to a young couple who weren't ready to have their son yet.

Robert and Viola, when they moved into their unit in Newcastle, NSW, were pretty excited. Robert had just started his new job, and so had Viola, and they were really looking forward to maybe a new sort of life in this beachside 2-bedroom unit overlooking Nobby's Beach, and both were starting new jobs.

Newcastle is a fantastic place to live, especially just starting out - lots of beautiful beaches, great shopping, lots of entertainment and restaurants, and also going to church. Take your pick.

Robert and Viola, moving into Newcastle from way out in the west in the country, found the place enchanting, beautiful, and great. Both gained pretty good jobs. Robert, an Accountant and Viola, a Primary Teacher, both gained pretty good employment in Newcastle - everything was looking up. 

Their unit was beautiful and so close to the beach - so great.

Both of them commenced work, and they were soon paying off their mortgage and really enjoying the beach and the lifestyle they were loving.

After twelve months, Viola found out she was pregnant, and even though it was a pretty big shock, she was excited to think that they would soon be parents. It was a little boy tucked up so neatly inside - they were so excited.

Viola saw her boss and told her exactly what was happening, and she was going to be granted maternity leave when the baby was born. Viola kept on working, teaching her second class throughout her pregnancy

One month, two months, three months, and time went on 4 months, five months, and then just 5 and a half months passed - all going so well. Viola was so happy at home and at work. Her class at school was so good, and they worked so hard, and she strived her very best. She really felt she had THE very best class in the whole school.

We often feel this when we go through life. We can be very happy doing what we do and going where we go. We so very often get really absorbed with life as it is that we never or hardly ever consider others, or more importantly, what Jesus actually did for us all those years ago.

So many people find it hard to believe in the Christ that we believe in and have given our hearts and lives to. So many people actually question who this Jesus person is? He never ever did just make our day bright and beautiful, and he wasn't just here to teach us how to be good! 

Jesus had the very authority to forgive us our sins and told everyone about His death and, more importantly, his resurrection. Jesus is part of our Triune God - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Back to Viola. She left work late that day. She had lots to do and was getting the classroom ready for Parents' Day, which was due the next day. Driving home in the thick of traffic at the end of the day, she didn't realise what she was doing. She was totally absorbed in what was going to happen tomorrow.

She kept driving and also looking at her phone for messages sent to her throughout the day. She didn't realise, but she actually sped through a red light. It was an absolute disaster, and her negligence caused total mayhem and an enormous traffic accident. 

Her car was a right off, as were the two other cars involved. Two of the people, including Viola, were immediately sent off in an emergency ambulance to the John Hunter Emergency Hospital. Unfortunately, she had to have an emergency operation, and the baby boy had to be delivered by cesarean section. He was so small, and he had trouble breathing.

Caleb, the baby, survived, and both Caleb and his mum, Viola, were in hospital for quite a long time, but eventually they came home, and Robert, the new dad, was so thrilled to have them both alive.

Could have been a total disaster! Viola learnt one huge lesson: to concentrate and not take your eyes off the road. 

We often go through life paddling our own canoe and making decisions, and keep on doing the things we want to do, and never really thinking of the consequences of making ourselves number one in life and putting others behind us.

We have to make sure we put others ahead of us. Jesus did, and by doing what he did,  he certainly paved the way for us to come to Him and ask Him into our lives and to lead us through every situation.

Way back in the Bible, in the Old Testament, there is Moses. Born of an Israelite lady and raised by an Egyptian Princess. The whole story of his birth and the miraculous life-saving event that happened was God-ordained. Moses was certainly destined to lead the Israelite people out of Egypt, where they had been slaves for generations.

Was Moses a sinless person to be able to do this? No, he wasn't. Actually, Moses was a murderer. One day, when he was living in the palace and had been adopted by the daughter of Pharaoh, he must have known he wasn't a true Egyptian, because he came across an Egyptian man attacking an Israelite slave and beating the poor fellow.  Moses was aghast and killed the Egyptian guy.

Moses took off like a rocket and never ever planned to come back to Egypt. The rest of the story is pretty amazing, really.

You know you can never really live a perfect life. We are all sinners, every one of us. We all deliberately sin or often accidentally sin. Moses did, and where we may not commit murder, it is all sin in the eyes of God. Sin is sin, and we as mere humans seem to have it inbuilt in us. The thing is, we have to come to Christ and ask his forgiveness and make him No 1 in our lives.

Moses took off, and even though he was a 'killer', he seemed to live a pretty quiet life. working for a shepherd and looking after his sheep, marrying his daughter, and raising a family. All seemed quiet until...

Things changed for Moses, and as we know, he ended up leading his people out of Egypt and becoming the person who reinstated the nation of Israel. Quite the story, and Moses ended up being the one who reinstated his people and dragged them back out of slavery.

Where are you with Christ right at this moment? Being extra nice to everyone and doing a lot of 'good' things doesn't make you right with God. We cannot cause ourselves to be born into God's family by doing lots of good things.

We need to come to God and ask him to come into our lives and lead us. We will still make mistakes, but if you are still uncertain, you can decide right now to place your faith in Jesus Christ. Becoming a child of God is asking Him into your life to become No 1.

You can say a simple prayer if you like, something like this:-  "Dear God, I know I am a sinner, and I really want to put it all behind me. I know I will continue to make mistakes, but I really want to be in your family. I really want to put my faith in Jesus, who died for me so that I can have eternal life with Him. Please forgive me for all the sins I have committed and help me to put you No 1 in my life."

God bless you and hope to see you next time.