The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

Q: I’ve done it again—I’ve already broken every New Year’s resolution I made for this year. Every year I start out determined to keep my resolutions, but before I know it I’ve failed. Maybe I shouldn’t bother. Why do I do this? What’s wrong with me?

A: I suspect you’re not alone; every year countless people start out resolving to change their lives—but end up failing. Sometimes it’s because their goals weren’t realistic, or because they didn’t plan exactly how they were going to reach them.

But usually it’s simply because we don’t have the inner moral and spiritual strength we need to change our lives. Like you, they wanted to do better, and they knew they needed to do better—but they still failed. I am reminded of the Apostle Paul’s experience in this regard: “For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out” (Romans 7:18).

What is the problem? The problem is that each one of us has been infected with a spiritual disease that cripples and weakens us—a disease the Bible calls “sin.” Even if we succeed in changing our lives in some ways, we still fail in other ways. This is why we need Christ, for only He can forgive our sins, and only He can help us and give us the inner strength to live the way we should.

By a simple prayer of faith turn to Jesus Christ, asking Him to forgive your sins and come into your life by His Holy Spirit. Then ask Him to show you what kind of person He wants you to be—and He will, as you read His Word, the Bible, and get connected with a church where you’ll learn what it means to follow Christ.

Q: My father-in-law really embarrasses my husband and me, because he’s very prejudiced against people of other races, and sometimes he even makes racial slurs around our children. We’ve tried to tell him to stop, but it’s no use. How should we handle this?

A: What your father-in-law is doing is wrong, not only in the eyes of society but in the eyes of God. God created all races and bestowed His image on all humanity, and His love extends to the whole human race—without exception. And some day in Heaven we’ll be joined with all those for whom Christ died: “persons from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9).

Although you’ve spoken with him about this, don’t stop expressing your concern to him, as God gives you opportunity. Even if you can’t change his attitude, at least you may be able to get him to change his behavior for the sake of his grandchildren. Be gentle, however; don’t get angry or act as if you’re right and he is wrong—it would only make him more set in his ways. To those who disagreed with him, Paul wrote, “By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you” (2 Corinthians 10:1).

The most important thing you can do, however, is to be a good example to your children, both by your words and your actions. Teach them about God’s love for all humanity—including them. If necessary, speak honestly with them about their grandfather’s attitudes, while letting them know you still love him, and so should they.

In addition, pray for your father-in-law, that God will change his heart and fill him with Christ’s love. The Bible says, “Since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” (1 John 4:11).

Q: I think it’s wrong to believe that one religion is any better than any other religion. I think all religions have glimpses of the truth, and I hope that eventually they’ll all get together and become one great religion. You probably won’t agree, but why?

A: Although I can’t agree with you, I sense that in your soul you have a hunger for God—and I hope you won’t ever be satisfied with anything less than discovering the living God. God’s promise is for you: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

Let me use an illustration to explain what I mean. Suppose you were a medical researcher, and one day you developed a new drug that—for the first time—completely cured a particular type of cancer. Would you keep it to yourself? Or would you tell doctors that it really didn’t matter which drug they used? No, of course not. You’d do everything you could to convince people to take it.

The same is true with Jesus Christ. The human race, the Bible says, has a deadly disease—a “spiritual cancer” the Bible calls sin. Not only does it pollute our lives and twist our personalities, but it cuts us off from God and from Heaven. Is there any cure? Yes! God has given us the cure—and that cure is Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, who gave His life for us.

Don’t wander down spiritual paths that will only deceive you and end up leading nowhere. Instead, turn to Jesus Christ and discover the hope and forgiveness He alone can give. Only Christ could say, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).