A Severed Wasp

by Roger Carswell

George Orwell once described how a wasp was sucking jam on his plate. He cut it in half. The wasp paid no attention, merely went on with its meal. In fact, Orwell said that jam poured from its severed oesophagus. Only when it tried to fly away did it realise the dreadful thing that had happened.

People who have never trusted in Jesus Christ have very much in common with that wasp.

Despite the fact that our wrong-doing has severed our link with God, we continue to indulge in life’s sweetness. Only when it is time to ‘fly away’ and leave this world do we realise the terrible position we are in with God.

The Bible teaches that men and women were made in the likeness of God. We were made to know and enjoy a relationship with God. However, we chose to disobey our Maker, thus severing the link with God. He is absolutely pure and sinless. He can have no contact with wrong.

However, a remedy has been provided. The sin which keeps us apart from God has been laid on Christ. He took the burden of our sin so that we could be set free, forgiven and brought back to God.

This is God’s remedy. He looked forwards in time to us today, took our sin and guilt and laid it on Christ on the cross. He who had always been one with His Father was cut off from Him, so that we could be united with Him.

On the cross Christ cried “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” He was forsaken by God so that we might be forgiven and never forsaken by God.

Sometimes, there is a feeling in us that we would like to believe, but it is almost too good to be true. Yet the greatest miracle in the Bible is not the feeding of the 5000, the parting of the Red Sea, or even the raising of Jesus from the dead - wonderful as all these are. No, the greatest miracle is that which happens when God forgives a person and brings him or her to Himself.

A converted burglar once said to me that the moment he trusted Christ, it was as if God took a stiff brush and cleaned him up from inside.

Because Christ has died, we can be forgiven; because Christ has risen, we can have new life.

Jesus Christ can bring us to God, and He in turn will change us completely. Life will be lived with a desire to serve God and enjoy a relationship with Him.

How does this come about?

1. God commands us to repent - turn from sin

2. We must trust Christ as Lord and Saviour - turn to Christ

3. God will forgive and come and live within - God turns to us

Will you do this now? Then pray this prayer:

“Oh God, I realise that I have sinned. I believe Jesus died and rose again. Please forgive me and bring me to know Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Amen.”