02/09/2025
It amazes me how many folks claim to be Christians while denying key tenets of the Bible. If you believe God is all love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness, and reject any notion of Him being a God of judgment and wrath, guess what? You have created a god from your own imagination and preferences. God is not the God you want Him to be. He is the God who is. Remember what He told Moses at the burning bush? I AM WHO I AM.
I am grieved by those who have deceived themselves into thinking they are Christians because they are "good" people. According to Jesus, "No one is good except God alone" (Mark 10:18). We are all sinners in desperate need of grace and forgiveness. And that grace and forgiveness is freely offered to all who will do three things:
1. Agree with God that you are a hopeless, helpless, hell-bound sinner who cannot save himself.
2. Turn from your sin in genuine repentance.
3. Put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. What He did on the cross and through the empty tomb is more than sufficient to cleanse every repentant, believing sinner.
Remember the scene of Calvary. Two sinners were crucified on either side of Jesus. One was repentant and one was not. Both asked Him to save them, but He only saved the repentant thief. Why? Because the unrepentant thief wanted to be saved from WHERE he was, not from WHO he was. He was not concerned about sin, Jesus, or eternity. The repentant thief, however, did not ask to be saved from his cross; he asked to be saved from the eternal hell he rightfully deserved--"Lord, remember me when you come into Your kingdom." And Jesus remembered him!
Now, when the sands of time run out on your life, all that will matter is this: WHICH THIEF ARE YOU?
