Somewhere between the time we’re born and the time we die, there is the time known as “THE AWKWARD AGE.”  Some think it happens when we enter puberty, but I believe we experience it throughout our lives.  It has to do with the original sin handed down by the first inhabitants of the world.

You wouldn’t think of a sweet innocent infant as sinful, but we’ve all been born with the stamp of “sinner” engraved into our hearts.  You wouldn’t consider a helpless hospice patient a sinner either, but the fact is sinners will continue to be so until we get on the other side of eternity.  Yes our sin is forgiven, but we must muddle through a life of sin.

This is a subject most of us don’t like to talk about.  It makes us uncomfortable and squeamish.  We have the feeling that we are responsible for our salvation by the things we do and say.  If we lead a good, upright life, God will surely forgive us and save us a place in heaven.  If that were true, we would have no need for a Savior – no need to study God’s Word and certainly no need for God.

We’re faced with difficult decisions, life threatening possibilities, hopelessness, pain, fear and everything that requires more than our own works to bring us relief.  Our Creator supplies the antidote for sin.  He loved us so much that He took on human flesh and died for us.

It doesn’t end there.  Because of His great love, we have been washed free of the weight of sin.  We can appear before our Judge as the innocent creatures He intended us to be.  No longer will we live as awkward individuals.  Our freedom from sin is assured!