During my oldest son’s school lesson a couple of weeks ago, we were talking about how we cannot be good enough for Jesus to save us. His devotion was talking about no matter what we do we cannot be good enough to get into heaven ourselves. What a truth! I have heard it many times and know this, but hearing it on a child’s level was really thought provoking.
As we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord this month, we are reminded of the following verse from Romans 3:23:
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; we all have come short because of sin.”
There is no way we can work to get to heaven, but how many of us really believe it? Our actions would probably tell the truth. Do we try to do so many good things to get the approval of God; just so we can enter into heaven? I am sure a lot of people do that. If we were honest, some of us at times still try to do that. It is not worth our time to try to do good things just so we can make it to heaven. It’s useless. We cannot do enough good to make up for the bad we have done. In human strength it is not possible and draining.
The good news is that we have already had someone do a good thing, a righteous thing. Jesus died on the cross to save us from death and hell. In Him and through Him we can obtain grace and favor from our heavenly Father. Jesus is the only way to heaven! He is the only one who can help us draw near to God. If it wasn’t for His sacrifice; we would be lost forever.
“What a beautiful thought and what a beautiful sacrifice!”
“How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Hebrew 9:14)
This truth doesn’t mean we don’t do good things. It means we should do even more! When we have the love of Christ in us, we will desire to do good for others with no reward in mind. We will be that servant to our families, friends, and even those we do not know. The love of Christ will compel us to reach out to others. Those things still cannot save us. Feeding the poor, giving money to the homeless, or making dinners for families who suffer losses cannot save us. Our righteousness is filthy rags compared to the splendor of God. Those things in themselves are nothing without love, the love of God!
Let us stop trying to do good deeds so we can make it to heaven. Let us realize we should do good, but that good is not what saves us. Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross is what has made a way for us to enter heaven. He is the only one that is righteous and the only one who can save us with His precious blood. As we enter this month may we celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection, and let us remember that it is the only thing that can redeem us!
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Let’s take a moment to pray and thank Jesus for loving us so much!
Jesus thank You for taking our place! Thank You for dying the gruesome death on the cross and then rising again on the 3rd day. You are our Passover Lamb and we are not worthy. You loved us and You wanted us, so You showed love in a way that is so humbling. May we be filled with the love of Christ towards others and never forget the cost for our way to communion with You!
In Jesus Name; Amen
Building strong marriages together,
Heather Strickland
