FIND FORGIVENESS

Let's begin this way: What if God expects me to decide what I'm going to believe and commit myself to, and what if the decision I make affects my eternal destination? Would a loving God exclude anyone from heaven just for not adopting the right belief? Well, as individuals, it is true that most of us would like to self- judge ourselves as worthy of heaven. We see ourselves, and maybe others too, as doing the best we can and feel we are nicer and more worthy than many others. Unfortunately, such reasoning leaves God's right to rule out of the equation. God has no obligation to adopt our personally created standard of goodness and worthiness. Indeed, it makes perfect sense that He uses His own standards. If you think about it, we would have a pretty puny god if he has to judge us and others by standards we have created ourselves. In essence, we make such a god in our own image of goodness, and that is called idolatry: a god who behaves and acts as we say is right and comfortable. This is the inclusive god. This is how we mix together three parts this and two parts that and everyone ends up with their own personal idol.

​

The Bible presents the one true God. He is above us, but comes down to us. He is just, but finds a single Way to forgive. He defines right and wrong and does not hide such truth from those who humbly seek to know it. This same Bible tell us the truth of who we are in comparison. It reveals truths about ourselves we cannot recognize without His help. "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" the Bible says. "Well sure", you might say, "nobody's perfect". So, actually, instead of everyone deserving heaven, we all actually deserve Hell. "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23) After all, how can we expect a Holy and perfect God to allow sinners to live in heaven?

​

So, what are we to do? God is perfect and Holy, we are not. There is a chasm separating us and there is nothing we can personally do to fill a chasm. It is a problem only God can solve. To solve this problem that we created, God sent His Son, Jesus Christ. Rather than banish us to Hell, God lovingly sent His perfect Son to live the life we couldn't possibly live: to earn eternal life. He was the only one properly fit for heaven. But rather than returning directly to heaven, Jesus chose to first die the death we really deserve and then rise after serving our sentence of death. All who will turn from being lord of their own lives and turn to Him as Savior and Lord will receive forgiveness of sin and inherit eternal life. "For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned. But whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." (John 3:16, 18)