I was never great at video games, but my favorite were always those with unlimited time and unlimited do-overs. I always felt I was at my best when I couldn't lose! Life is not so forgiving. Rarely do we get a "do-over."
Fortunately, Jesus gives us the ultimate "do-over." We get complete, unrestricted, unconditional, and unwavering forgiveness of sins. The price: a genuine heart. It doesn't get better than that! So why doesn't everyone take advatage of it? If a gas station was giving away free gas, there would be lines down the road, but it seems like so many pass on Christ's precious gift. Luke 23 gives us a clue:
"One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[d]”
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."
The answer is fairly simple: we can choose rebellion or submission. We can be angry, blame God for all of our suffering, and go down to the grave shaking our fists at Him, or we can recognize His own immeasurable suffering and love, beg for his forgiveness, and find life everlasting.
We are all "criminals" in God's eyes; we are sinful and deserving of death. Because of the cross, however, we can chose which side to be on: anger and death, or forgiveness and life. Which side of the cross are you on?
***If you are not sure which side you are on, or just need more information about knowing God, I encourage you to click on the book on the right side of the page: Faith and Facts. It is free to download. It can give you some perspective on what faith is and what it means to have a relationship with God.***
Fortunately, Jesus gives us the ultimate "do-over." We get complete, unrestricted, unconditional, and unwavering forgiveness of sins. The price: a genuine heart. It doesn't get better than that! So why doesn't everyone take advatage of it? If a gas station was giving away free gas, there would be lines down the road, but it seems like so many pass on Christ's precious gift. Luke 23 gives us a clue:
"One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.[d]”
43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise."
The answer is fairly simple: we can choose rebellion or submission. We can be angry, blame God for all of our suffering, and go down to the grave shaking our fists at Him, or we can recognize His own immeasurable suffering and love, beg for his forgiveness, and find life everlasting.
We are all "criminals" in God's eyes; we are sinful and deserving of death. Because of the cross, however, we can chose which side to be on: anger and death, or forgiveness and life. Which side of the cross are you on?
***If you are not sure which side you are on, or just need more information about knowing God, I encourage you to click on the book on the right side of the page: Faith and Facts. It is free to download. It can give you some perspective on what faith is and what it means to have a relationship with God.***
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