Faith

A recent Barna Group Study found that 72% of all Americans believe it's possible to earn your way to Heaven.  Good people go to Heaven.  Bad people go to hell.  There's only one flaw with that friend--define good, define bad.  In a sinful world full of tolerance and deceit chances are, our definitions will not match.  Even more troubling?  If you can get to Heaven simply by being good....or not being as bad as others, then what do you do with Jesus?  Why did He die?  If we have even the slightest opportunity to earn our way to Heaven--then Jesus died for nothing.  

This is troubling to me, because dear reader Jesus' death is so very personal. He wasn't just some good guy who was wrongly murdered.  He died for you.  He died for me.  He did not die in vain.  He died for a purpose.

To many people, salvation means forgiveness and a home in heaven-but it's more than that.  It impacts your life now.  If salvation only meant forgiveness from past sins and future security, then why would the Lord leave us on earth after our salvation?  What's the point? We have a purpose.  We have opportunities to impact the lives of others and make an eternal difference by producing spiritual fruit.  Don't you see?  We're part of the story.  

Jesus' message is not "do these things" and try to be good.  He says you do nothing, I have done everything for you.  I have lived the life that you could not live.  I have died the death that you deserved.  Turn from your every attempt to fix it and trust me.  How?  Have faith.  

His love for us is based on who He is, not what He sees in us.  

Trust Him.  Stop trying to be good.  Stop making excuses for being bad and just trust Him.  He has a plan, He has a purpose and He wants you to be part of His story.