WHAT MATTERS MOST IN LIFE
WHAT DID I DO?
It's the first question we ask the police officer when he pulls us over. "What did I do?" Did you know that God's Law, (the 10 Commandments), is like that police officer? His law tells us what we did wrong. It is a mirror, showing us our flaws and failures against the one and only perfect and holy God, to whom we all must give an account (2 Cor. 5:10). Guess what, you and I have done wrong against God. We have broken several, or all of His commandments in one way or another. Even if you have no knowledge of God's law, you must answer to God because He has written his law on your heart and conscience. (Rom. 2:14-15).
NO EXCUSE
We wish we had an excuse for our violations but we don't. In Mark 7:21-23 Jesus said that all of the wrong things we do against God and others come from one source, the heart. Your wrong deeds and thoughts defile you and make you guilty before God. Look what it says: "For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person." If you do just one or any of these things, it was not because someone else made you do them, it was because in your heart you wanted to do them. That's it, no excuse.
NOW WHAT?
The ugly reality here is that you and I stand guilty before God and we deserve punishment for the wrong things we have willfully done. What is that punishment? Well, it's DEATH, physical death and eternal death (Rom. 3:23). These are our wages. What we have earned by our actions. Eternal death is in a place called hell. God is very serious about our sin, about your sin. Many people will admit they they are "not perfect" or sometimes do bad things. Many will try to make up for their bad deeds by doing "good" deeds. But the Word of God, the Bible, tells us that no good works will save us from the wrath of God. No good efforts or sincerity will add one ounce of credit in good standing before God on judgement day. Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us this. This is quite a dilemma. But there is hope, keep reading...
INCREDIBLY GOOD NEWS
This same God whom we all have sinned against, is the same God who made a way of escape from the punishment and wrath that each of us deserves. How is that? Well, God came down to earth as Jesus 2000 years ago and lived a perfect life. He never sinned. He obeyed God's Law perfectly, even in his thoughts. At the age of 33 Jesus was killed on a cross. It was no accident though, Jesus, out of his love for us, willingly laid down his life as a sacrifice to pay the penalty for the sins of any person who will receive Him (Rom. 1:12). Jesus then came back to life three days later and He offers us forgiveness and eternal life with Him. You see Jesus, who knew no sin, in a sense became sin for us so that we, in Him, could become the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21). Jesus' perfect record of obedience while on earth is exchanged for your record of sin and disobedience to God. Because of that fact God can legally forgive and pardon you for the terrible things you have done against Him and other people, no matter how bad. Cry out to Him for forgiveness and mercy today, stop doing wrong, repent and obey Him. Be willing to turn from your sinful ways. He will take away your desire for doing wrong. He will wash you clean and give you eternal life with Him in Heaven. He will make you a new person inside and out (2 Cor. 5:17) and He will never turn anyone away. Jesus said "whoever comes to me I will NEVER cast out" (John 6:37). Don't put it off. Call out to Him right now while there is still time. Once you die it will be too late. He will answer you and wash you clean from all your sin and guilt.
