We are all sinners. Romans 3:23 assures of of this, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God“, so that none of us can take pride in our righteousness. And in Romans 6:23, we are also assured that the price for our sins is certain: “For the wages of sin is death“. God is Holy. God cannot have sin in His presence. Just as one drop of sewage pollutes a glass of clean water, so would a sinner pollute the perfection and righteousness of heaven.
Yet God desires us to be with Him.
So He sent His Son, Jesus, to pay the price for our sins. You see, we must answer for our sins. And because all have sinned, and none are righteous, we cannot pay for our sins and must face an eternity, separated from God, in Hell. But Jesus came to die in our place. To pay our price. Friend- He’s already paid for your sins. All you need to do is accept the gift. Romans 10:9-10 tells us “9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
God’s mercy is shown to us by us not receiving that which we deserve- death, if we accept His gift of salvation through Jesus. We deserve to stand for our sins, and to pay the price. By His mercy, we do not have to. Grace is receiving that which you do not deserve. By His grace, we are offered eternal life in heaven, because Jesus paid our price. We only need to accept it, to confess Jesus as Lord.
Today, nearly 2000 years ago, Jesus paid the price. For you and for me. Reflect on this, and consider what God is calling you to today.
Luke 23
33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. 34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. 35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. 36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, 37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. 38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. 44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. 46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. 47 Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.
God loves you, dear friend, and wants you to be with Him for eternity in Heaven. But He will not force you. He has given us free will to choose.
As Joshua said to the Israelites in Joshua 24:15, “choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve“.
“But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”