Ever done something bad? Not too many of us can answer ‘no’ to that question. We’re all in the same boat, and it doesn’t take too long before we realize that the problem isn’t government, social status, education, money, or health care.
The problem is us.
Where ever and whoever you are, there’s something inside of you that makes you do things that you wish you never did. We don’t want to admit it, hate to be called out on it, but it’s true. We always want to do what’s “right” though. That’s why we say, “Only God can judge me,” because in the moment we do wrong, God can see that we wanted to—or wish we did right.
But, if we believe that God is God, and we know that God is the judge that will judge all of us, then we also have to believe that He is the most fair and absolutely just judge that there is. If that’s the case, we’re in serious trouble. Our courts would never let a criminal off that planned a crime, committed it, and then apologized later. But don’t we plan and carry out our sin, only to apologize later asking God will forgive us? That’s no good. We’re in serious trouble, and certain punishment.
So how do we fix this?
If we want God to pass a favorable judgment on our life, we would somehow need to show that it fits His standard— perfection. We’ve all failed, and it doesn’t look like anyone is close to reaching this. We need a life transplant. Take out our bad one, and replace it with a perfect one. God knows this too.
That’s where Jesus comes in.
You’ve probably seen a picture of Jesus on the cross, but may not know why He’s dying on it. Here’s the story. In the face of our sin—doing bad things and loving it, God came down, became a man, lived a perfect life, and then died the most brutal death—the death that we had coming as our punishment. But, that’s not how it ends. He didn’t stay dead. He resurrected to life, and ascended back to heaven. This is really good news.
Now, what we desperately needed is freely available.
God offers us His perfect life to replace our disgusting ones. It’s all His love, with all His fairness and justice. He takes the punishment we deserve, and we take His perfection and right standing in the face of His standard. You may not be perfect now, but if you walk this life with Him, He’ll get you there.
He promises that one day this whole world will end, and He’ll make a new one. One that’s perfect, with none of the problems and shortcomings we face now. One where we’ll live forever with Him.
Sadly, some will choose to go it on their own.
They’ll live life making their own rules, doing whatever pleases them, and setting their own standards, disregarding the fractured situation they are in with God—owing a debt they could never repay on their own. It doesn’t make much sense, but it’s popular. To them is left the end of a life lived apart from God— Eternity apart from God as well. Hell.
That ain’t what you want.
Choose life. Choose Jesus.
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” – Romans 10:9
