Wednesday evening, 1/10/18, President Trump surprised his Congressional audience when he said, somewhat cryptically, regarding America’s opioid crisis, “I think I know the answer…not sure the country is ready for it yet. Does anybody know what I mean? I think so.” He did not elaborate. (https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-says-i-think-i-know-answer-to-drug-crisis-adds-us-may-not-be-ready/ar-BBIdFMm?li=BBnb7Kz)
What does he mean? Maybe he has some far-reaching border control method in mind to stop the flow of illegal drugs into our nation. Maybe he knows something we don’t know about the current efforts. Maybe he’s just blowing smoke…
However, wouldn’t it be great if someone DID have The Answer?! It would be awesome if some politician or leader had the answer for eliminating illegal drugs, eradicating poverty, and stamping out racism. That would change everything, wouldn’t it?
I have it. I have the answer. I KNOW I know the answer!
“Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!…There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 7:24–8:1, ESV).
The apostle Paul knew the answer too. It seems so simple. It seems cliché. The entire concept is blasted and lampooned across media outlets. But, it’s a simple answer. It’s Jesus. Simply Jesus.
The answer to the drug crisis, the solution to the war on terror, the answer to literally changing the world is to get the message of God’s grace and love and mercy exhibited before humanity in the life, love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ out into the world! Jesus CAN and will change us.
In 1 Corinthians 6:9–10 Paul lists a litany of sins — bad ones! But then he adds, in verse 11, the breath of fresh air, the statement of renewal: “And such were (emphasis added) some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” That’s God’s power to change! That, my friends, is The Answer!