A statement no one wants to hear is “you’ve got a problem.” Many times even if we do, we just don’t want to hear about it. Like it or not we all have a problem. It’s not a drug problem, the president or a virus, it is the problem of all the world for all time. The problem everyone has and must face is sin (James 4:17; Rom. 6:23). 

Sin is to miss the mark. Why do we have the problem? Well, in large part because of “the tree.” You remember the one placed in the Garden (Gen. 2:16-17). It is from the partaking of its fruit that Adam and Eve sinned and were removed from the Garden of Eden. God said it was from that event sin entered into the world and death by sin, passed on to all, for all have sinned (Rom. 5:12). Sin was referenced as lying at the door (Gen. 4:7). Not too many years later Moses warned your sin “will find you out” (Num. 32:23). From the beginning whether to sin or not to sin has been man’s/woman’s choice (Josh. 24:15). God created us that way—free moral agents.

There is a remedy to the sin problem, a balm in Gilead (Jer. 8:22). A first peek was given in the Garden (Gen. 3:15): a promise given (Gen. 12:1-3); a glimpse of the plan seen (Gen. 45:5); a provident was put forward (Gen. 50:20); a law given to preserve the plan and people (Exodus 20). Then came bits and pieces of information proving the divinity of the plan and challenging the devil (Zech. 6:13; John 1:29). Then came the glorious dawning of the day God had made (Psalm 118:24) a King, Potentate (I Tim. 6:15); the coming and revelation of a lawgiver (Gen. 49:10; James 4:12) delivering the law of the Spirit of Life (Rom. 8:2). The remedy came in the form of the Son of God, a Savior, the Messiah, Prince of Peace.

A plan? Can it be? Oh yes indeed it was God’s plan before the world began (Eph. 1:4). One from Heaven would come at the appropriate time (Gal. 4:4). P. P. Bliss penned it; “Full atonement can it be? Hallelujah! What a Savior!”

Jesus came not because He had a problem, but we did. Not because He owed a debt, but we did. He didn’t deserve death or the vile treatment He received, but we did because of the problem of sin. You’ve got a problem, but thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift (II Cor. 9:15).

Everyone must confront, admit, and repent of sin before real change takes place. The remedy is here, but individuals must get it by obedient faith. “There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul,” but to Gilead you must go to receive it. If only the world could realize and remedy the problem, then all war, poverty, hatred, greed, lewdness and filthiness would cease. Real peace would be realized with the hope that springs eternal.  Don’t give up or give in dear brother or sister—God’s plan works.

-David Hill, President of Tennessee Bible College