Three Turns or Turn, Turn, Turn

The first turn everyone makes is a disaster. We turn aside. That doesn’t sound terrible until you see it in context.

Paul makes a case for man’s sinfulness in Romans chapter 3. In verse 10 he begins a series of Old Testament quotations, beginning with “None is righteous, no, not one.” Everyone fails to measure up without exception. It only gets worse. “No one understands; (v.11) and then he repeats the reality that “no one does good, not even one.” (v.12) He says it is evident by what they say and the things they do. (v.13-17) Finally, he says, “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

This is a choice of willful turning. Verse 12 makes this clear: “All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” Romans 3:12

The first turn of the three is clear: We are prideful, selfish, stubborn, and disrespect the Creator with a vengeance. This turning ends in everlasting death and agony. But there is hope.

The Second Turn is Possible

We can recognize the reality of our lives apart from God. The fog starts to lift. We see our need. As Paul says, Jesus makes the Old Covenant spring to life when it is seen in the context of the main point of the Old Testament: Jesus. He says the veil is lifted “because only through Christ is it taken away.”

We can turn to the Lord. When that happens life takes on an amazing clarity. We understand our purpose and we become free.

“Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:12-17

Don’t miss this turn: “But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

Jesus said something that many don’t believe and most find offensive if they are honest. In John 14:6 Jesus declares he is the only way to God. If it isn’t true, then the statement is dishonest. If it is true, then there are implications. “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” He doesn’t say “I am one of many ways.” He also doesn’t say “you can pick truth that meets your preferences or opinions.” He says he is “the life.”

The Third Turn is Being Like a Child

If we know we have turned aside, and if we recognize we need to turn to the Lord, then the third turn is so very encouraging. This doesn’t require advanced learning or even tremendous reasoning powers. Jesus said it was a matter of humble turning like a child. Notice the greatness of the child in Matthew’s gospel. Jesus called the child to him, and the child came to him. It was a simple act of coming to Jesus. This is a picture of faith. It is a picture of believing what God says about our turning aside and about where we should turn. Turn to Jesus

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, ‘Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’” Matthew 18:1-4

He did not say “become something grand and then come to me.” He was saying they should come to him just as they were. It is faith in who he said he was and why he came. Katy Nichole sings the gospel message…

Turn to Jesus

Katy Nichole – “Turn To Jesus” (Official Lyric Video)

Katy Nichole – “Turn to Jesus”

“And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him, ‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.’” Luke 1:12-17