The Human Condition

let's see...how should I put this?   

how about....without Grace...you're 

done....finished...kaput....nope - 

can't make it...no chance...zilch...

zero....nada....not only in this 

passing life but totally in the eternal 

life to come...or to put it more crassly...

you're screwed....why do I say that?...

well...let's think about it...

with just a cursory glance at  history

the corruption of the human condition 

screams out its wounded nature for 

anyone who cares to examine its ghastly 

behavior in all its evil wars...concentration / 

death camps...holocausts....totalitarian 

re-education centers...slavery...religious 

persecutions.. .Nazis...Communists...

Terrorists....Mafia...Cartels....now...all of 

that might seem somewhat distant to a lot 

of people so...then...how about somethings 

a little more 'nightly news' like...

why are there such things as...

police....jails...soaring crime / murder rates..

rape...muggings...shop-lifting....pedophilia...

child abuse...infidelity...self-defense classes...

security systems...guns...guard dogs....

fences.....ID's...speed limits...even

locking your home / car doors?....

then how about the great cultural issues 

such as the killing fields of abortion then

selling the baby parts for research...

addictive behaviors destroying families for 

generations as one disorder causes others-

falling like dominoes - 'baby daddies' / 'baby

mommies' instead of Fathers and Mothers  

creating a spider-web of chaos / crime...

prostitution....gangs.....drive-by's...

dropouts...joblessness... poverty which captures 

young and old alike gasping for breath in the 

air of fear / despair and then...last but certainly 

not least...if you dare and are honest with yourself...

look in the mirror...have you ever lied?...cheated / 

stolen?...given into lust using others for your own

pleasure?...maybe porn?....how are you at forgiving 

others?...asking for forgiveness?...how about 'taking

the Lord's name in vane'?...any unhealthy habits in 

your life?...self-indulgence?...anger / hatred /

resentment issues?...any selfishness?...how are you 

at serving others' needs? self-sacrifice?...do you 

'worship false gods' ie. build your life around things 

like money...reputation...power...sex...Satan's shiny

objects instead of the 'Pearl of Great Price'...or something 

more coarse like 'anything goes as long as it makes 

you happy...what you want...whenever you want...

with whomever you want...?

so, now... what is your assessment of the human 

condition after a brief glance at history...society / 

culture...the news...yourself?....

all that has been described above has a name -

it is called Sin which is Evil because it separates

us from the Lord and one another and those who 

sin - embrace evil - are called Sinners...that's the 

state of the human condition -a matter of fact - 

and, then, after a life of sinning comes death...

and then, comes Judgement...Heaven or Hell...

and if. that's the end of the story...you're screwed...

BUT...that's NOT the end...there is ONE who 

stands in the breach...a Savior...

Jesus is the Way...Truth.....Life...He bore all 

your sins / guilt / punishment and put them to 

death through the horror of  the Cross out of 

Love for you... personally... then Rose to a New 

Life which He now offers you....in a Word...

Grace...a Free Gift...to be "Divinized'...but 

just as with any gift...it must be accepted....

you must decide whether or not to receive 

Him as your Personal Lord and Savior...you 

must CHOOSE to accept His Mercy / Forgiveness / 

Grace or reject it...and, BTW...NOT to choose 

IS a choice...then to let Him begin to transform 

you through the Power of the Holy Spirit to 

'Put to death the deeds of the flesh'... by living 

a New Way of Life to Love Him Above All...

then one another.. a Journey to Freedom.by 

forming you into a New Creation...His Disciple..

but....that's just the Beginning...it will be a 

Battle because...

you still bear the wounds of Original Sin...

you are attracted to that which will

harm you...and Satan- our Enemy -  still wars 

against you through temptations...deceptions...

accusations to destroy you in this life and

therefore in the next...the 'world' -the Godless

Culture -is still in Satan's hands...many fight 

against the Kingdom of God but your Calling 

is the same...you are commissioned by Him -

just as the first Disciples -to 'Preach the Good 

News' /  Witness by your words / deeds that 

Jesus is the Answer to the Human Condition...

So...yes...All is Grace...and yes without it...

you're screwed...not only in this life but Forever..

Reflection / Discussion:

-The Lord hates your sins...do you?

-What is Original Sin?

-What are its consequences?

-How does your life manifest this condition?

-Where do you struggle? 

-Have you decided to follow Jesus- to accept His Grace?

-If not, what is holding you back? 

-What does it mean to be 'Divinized'?

-Find someone to help you navigate this decision.

- Find a support group / vibrant Church to be part of

-How does your life manifest your choice?

-What are you doing to grow in that relationship?

-How are you helping others to make that decision?