In a previous post, I showed that people who do whatever they want are, by definition, "on the dark side", and I urged my readers to "get on the winning team". But there is so much ignorance about how to do that, and about what a Christian actually is.
Many Americans think that being born in a so-called "Christian country" makes them Christians. Others think that by attending a church that calls itself Christian is good enough, or that by occasionally talking to "the man upstairs" is sufficient. Or trying to follow the Golden Rule or the Ten Commandments.
Jesus was once approached by a wealthy religious man who wanted to know how to enter the Kingdom of God. He bragged that he had been faithful to keep all of God's commandments. Jesus told him that he was still lacking, and he gave the inquirer one very difficult assignment which he didn't even attempt to do. This story illustrates one of the purposes of God's Law--to show us our weakness. The best of us cannot keep the Ten Commandments for one month, let alone keeping the hundreds of commands in the Law for a lifetime. We are all sinners, and we cannot save ourselves from that condition. It's a huge step in the right direction to recognize that. And our sins separate us from a holy, pure, righteous, perfect God. And justice demands that our sins have to be punished.
How then can we be saved from our sins, from this separation, from this punishment? Many years ago, a young lady appeared before a court in California. The judge pronounced a hefty fine as punishment for her humbly confessed infraction of the law. Then he did something unusual for a distinguished jurist--he took off his robe, descended to the woman's side, and handed her enough money to pay the fine. He was her father.
God could have let all of humanity suffer the consequences for our deeds. But because he is so wonderfully merciful, when he saw our desperate condition, that we could not save ourselves, he did something about it. He paid the price we could not pay. God "descended" to Earth, took off his "robe" of glory, lived the perfect life we can't live, and he suffered and died in our place. His pain, our gain. Justice was accomplished, yet mercy was too.
How does one receive this mercy? By faith. Faith in God's ability and willingness to save you. Faith in his guidance and wisdom for your life. Faith in the Heavenly reward he prepares for each one who trusts him. Faith does not earn you anything; it is simply the key that opens up the riches of God's goodness.
For those of you who recognize your need and who want this mercy from God, I suggest that you pray this prayer:
Holy and merciful God, please forgive my many sins. I have not pleased you with my life. I have too often ignored you. I turn from my sin, and I ask for you to forgive me. I ask for your power to live a new life. I thank you for doing this, as you have promised that you would. I pray in the name of Jesus, amen.
This is the start of an amazing adventure! Please, please write to me (jgapinoy@yahoo.com) and tell me about your commitment. It would make me so happy to learn that you put your trust in Jesus Christ.
