If you feel like you fail God over and over again, you might feel like you don't deserve to be with Him or to seek Him.

I want to emphasize the word feel because the Bible reveals a different kind of reality. Desire to change is all you need. That is repentance - the choice to leave your old life behind and pursue God.

He accepts you because Jesus has paid the penalty of sin on our behalf.

Has God abandoned you until we overcome lust?

No.

Why?

Because Jesus came into our darkness offering us transformation. He didn't come hoping we fix ourselves up before encountering Him.

We don't fix our hair before we go to a barber. A barber is the one who fixes our hair.

We don't heal ourselves before we go to the doctor, because we expect the doctor to help to set our body on the road to recovery.

The same way is with Jesus. He comes to our darkness and doesn't expect us to be perfect before we approach Him. He is the One who brings the light.

Jesus Touches and Heals the Unclean

Jesus didn't feel too holy or clean to avoid people who were hurting and unclean.

Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. "Lord," the man said, "if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean." [3] Jesus reached out and touched him. "I am willing," he said. "Be healed!" And instantly the leprosy disappeared. (Matthew 8:2-3, NLT)

Jesus was approached by a leper, which by Jewish law was not allowed. The leper had faith that Jesus was not just a man. He had the boldness to come and approach Him. Because of that faith, Jesus reached out His hand, touched the leper, and he became clean immediately.

The same is true with the woman with the issue of blood.

A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding, and she could find no cure. [44] Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of his robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped. (Luke 8:43-44, NLT)

Luke describes the story of a woman suffering for 12 years. She decided to approach Jesus secretly. She was also not allowed to touch anyone according to the law, but she believed that just by touching the robes of Jesus, she would be made whole. That's what happened.

Jesus didn't criticize her but encouraged and lifted her faith to everyone as an example.

The character and nature of Jesus is to go down into the darkness. He doesn't abandon or leave those bound by darkness. He humbly and lovingly comes to the rescue.

We shouldn't fear to approach Jesus if we are bound by darkness because He doesn't avoid the darkness, but enters it and transforms it.

He Came To Call the Sinners Not the Righteous

We often feel like we need to be righteous before we can approach God.

Jesus never communicated such a truth. He taught of the opposite reality. We approach God to receive righteousness as a gift and end up living righteously.

Jesus answered them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor-sick people do. [32] I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent." (Luke 5:31-32, NLT)

Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Jesus hasn't come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

If you feel like you don't deserve Jesus coming to you, you qualify. If you feel like you are not righteous, that's what qualifies you. Your unrighteousness does not disqualify you.

Jesus doesn't abandon sinners. He spends more time with those who have broken lives. The religious people who see themselves as righteous are offended by how much time Jesus spends with sinners, tax collectors, and prostitutes.

Jesus came into the world as a light, into the darkness to change and transform it.

He Died While We Were Still Sinners

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8, NLT)

Before we deserved, before we ever can do anything for God, He demonstrated His love. It's not about our good works, but about His love. Felling like we need, to try to deserve His love diminishes it. Feeling abandoned because we are not good enough, criticizes His love that is not big enough to love someone who does not deserve Him.

We don't deserve Him, but the punishment. Fortunately, because of His love, He decided to take the punishment on Himself. While we were still sinners, He died for us, so that He could give us the gift of righteousness.

Jesus doesn't abandon the sinners or those who don't deserve Him but is willing to show love to such an extent that He paid for our acceptance.

Last Thoughts

Jesus doesn't abandon those who are in darkness. He comes into the midst of the darkness and brings His light. He has not abandoned you.

Keep on pursuing Him and He will deliver from every bondage.

Thank you for taking the time to read this! It means a lot to me!

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Has God Abandoned You Until You Overcome Lust?