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Let us see how the path of our wanderer continues.

The path to the cross seems like an eternity to the hiker. The load on his back seems to get heavier and heavier. The walker thinks of all his failures, all the things he is carrying in his sack. Is it even possible that this can be taken away from him and forgiven? He sees all his guilt and his shortcomings. How can he stand before a perfect and holy God? He has to admit to himself that he doesn't know much about God. He has heard that he is quite strict and takes sin very seriously. On the other hand, he has repeatedly felt himself being drawn to God. And what was this offer that he could get rid of his burdens with God all about? All these thoughts confused him. These thoughts made his burdens become heavier and heavier. He was about to give up when he passed a sign that read: „Every day is day one with God“. This means that you can start anew with God every day.

Every Day is Day one with God

This saying was the original idea behind the picture. The aim was to show that it is never too late to turn back to God, no matter what you have done in your life. Even if we have been living with God for a long time and disappoint him time and time again, he never gives up on us. Every day we get a new chance to start all over again with him.
God has a long breath with us. He knows that we are like helpless children who are just learning to walk. A child does not learn to walk overnight. They have to practice a lot before they can walk safely. They often fall to the ground. In the beginning, the legs are too wobbly to support the child's weight. Nevertheless, the children don't give up discouraged. At least I don't know any children who say: „I'll never learn to walk! It's best if I don't even try!“ No, the children don't worry about it, they try again and again. I have also never seen parents scolding their children when they fall down, perhaps for the hundredth time. Instead, they help their child by holding on to them and encouraging them to try again. That is exactly how God is. He is a loving, patient father who always encourages us to get up when we have fallen. We are often weak in faith and perhaps discouraged because we have fallen so often and disappointed God. We are afraid to get up again and try again because we are afraid that we might fail again. But God would rather we fail than not try at all. Just as a father encourages his child to try to walk again, God encourages us to get up when we are down and to move forward with his help.

The cross

Our hiker had understood the message on the sign. Encouraged by this message, he reaches the cross. It is illuminated by a bright light that shines out of the narrow gate. There is warmth and hope in this light. The wanderer looks up at the cross. He sees a man who has been nailed to the cross. His hands and feet are riddled with nails, his side is pierced and his forehead is torn by the crown of thorns. He appears to be dead. When the wanderer sees the man's face, he does not see the face of a hardened criminal. No, the features are soft and gentle. The whole man radiates something peaceful. But why did he have to die such a horrible death?

Slowly it dawned on him. He had already heard about it. He had heard the story of God giving his very best to save the humanity he loved so much. There on the cross hung the Son of God himself! The wanderer knew the story from his childhood days. He remembered that Jesus had died for the sins of the world. But „sin“ was an abstract concept for him. He didn't know much about it. But as he looked at this man on the cross and thought about him, a thought occurred to him. This Jesus had invited him again and again to come to him to take away his burden. Suddenly he understood that all his burdens were the sins from which Jesus could free him. In contemplating the dead Savior, he suddenly understood the scope and consequences of his sins. He also understood why the broad road led to death. Because if the burden is not placed on Jesus, sooner or later you will die from the consequences. Sin leads to eternal death. There is no escape. But now the wayfarer understood that Jesus wanted to free him from his burdens. However, he could only do this because he himself took the sins upon himself and paid the price for them - he gave his eternal life to save the life of an apostate. The realization grew in the heart of the wanderer: God had taken his place, which he actually deserved! The man hanging there on the cross should have been him! Instead, in his place hung an innocent man who loved him so much that he was prepared to take his guilt upon himself. Slowly, the wanderer realized the deep love God had for him and the high price he was willing to pay for his burden.

Redemption

How long had he suffered under his burden? How long had he tried to get rid of it himself? How could he be so stubborn and reject the gentle tug of God for so long? He realized that he could have been freed from his burden much earlier. But his ego stood in his way for a long time.

Overwhelmed by the magnitude of his guilt, his unworthiness and his absolute helplessness, the man collapses at the foot of the cross. In tears, he confesses all his offenses, his stubbornness and admits that he is absolutely unworthy of forgiveness. But in faith, he clings to the cross and claims the precious blood of Jesus for himself, asking God to cleanse him of his sins for the sake of his Son's name. He struggles and fights for a long time at the foot of the cross, clinging to the merits of Jesus. But at some point, a light shines on him from heaven. This light brings peace to the heart of the wanderer. For the first time in his life, he feels a deep sense of calm and security.

He hears the gentle voice of Jesus saying (Matthew 11:28-31):

„Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden! And I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me! For I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.»

New life

The wanderer stands up. He places his heavy, dirty sack, which has tormented him for so many years, at the foot of the cross. He is free from the burden of his sins! He is truly free! He can't believe it and falls down in front of the cross again. But this time it is tears of joy that stream down his face and words of praise and adoration that come from his lips.

The wayfarer now receives new clothes. The old, worn-out clothes of his own righteousness must give way to the clothes of Jesus' righteousness. These clothes are new, clean and the shirt is radiantly white. It is absolute sinlessness and an expression of the pure character of God. These clothes show that this person has been born again. He no longer lives his own life. From now on, he lives for God alone. He has sworn allegiance to him. In return, he receives Jesus' righteousness, which is a guarantee of eternal life.

After exchanging clothes, the hiker receives instructions for the way ahead. He is warned that this path will not be easy. There will be many dangers and difficulties. But God has also provided many blessings along the way. It will not only be dark and difficult. God promises him that he will be by his side the whole way. As long as the walker looks to Jesus, he will be safe. However, as soon as he looked at the circumstances, his courage would leave him and he would fall. But even if he should fall, Jesus is always close by to help him up again. Together with Jesus, he could reach the New Jerusalem, his true home, and enter into eternal rest.

After hearing all this and more, the wanderer set off on his new journey through life. From now on, he had a goal in life. He wanted to reach the New Jerusalem! He hoped to meet many people along the way whom he could tell about his wonderful experience. His heart was full of gratitude and joy as he set off. On the way to the narrow gate, he sang songs of praise to the glory of his Redeemer.

Click here for the next chapter: „The narrow gate“