you’re not too far gone.
my favorite thing about the Bible is that every single person in the pages of Scripture is imperfect (well, besides Jesus).
every single person God used to accomplish His purpose on earth in the Word was an imperfect, messed up, no good human being. I fear that too many of us think we are “too far gone” for God to save us, for God to use us, or for God to speak to us. that is simply not the case, and that is a lie from the enemy.
what makes the gospel Good News is that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). it wasn’t when we finally had our act together that Christ died for us. it wasn’t that when we finally got it figured out that Christ died for us. it wasn’t when we finally never messed up or never fell short that Christ died for us. it wasn’t that when we finally knew every single thing about who God is that Christ decided to die for us.
it was while we were still sinners, that Christ died for us. no matter what you’ve done, no matter where you’ve been, no matter who you’ve been, Jesus wants a relationship with you.
I love the way the Message version paints this picture:
“Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn’t, and doesn’t, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn’t been so weak, we wouldn’t have known what to do anyway. We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him” (Romans 5:6-8).
this is why I believe the good news of Jesus more than any other religion. in every other religion, we’re told that we have to clean up our act to get to God. we have to achieve perfection for God to love us. but with Jesus, He already loves us. He already chose us. He already wants us. He made a way for us when there was no way.
the person who actually wrote the verse I referred to above was Paul. Paul was an apostle of Jesus Christ. but before he was an apostle, he was a murderer of people who followed Jesus. yep, you read that right. the guy who wrote half of the New Testament was a messed up, no good, imperfect human being.
so, if Paul the Apostle of Christ who wrote half of the New Testament used to be a sinner, then you are not too far gone for God.
(I say used to be, because when you believe that Jesus Christ is your Savior, you are actually no longer defined by your sin. you are made righteous by the blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross.)
Paul explains this further in 1st Timothy 1:12-15,
“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him, even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.
This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen” (NLT).
rest in the work that Christ did on the cross for you. you don’t have to work for your salvation or climb your way to God. when He breathed His last breath, “It is finished”, He was thinking of you and of me. when He released His Spirit back to the Almighty God, He knew the work was complete for us to be in right relationship with the God of the universe. that was the whole reason Jesus came to the earth. He knew His mission was to help make us right with God because we can’t be made right with God on our own terms.
if you’ve never accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and you want to receive Him as your Lord and Savior, read this prayer out loud below (this prayer is not what saves you, but it helps you to express to the Lord your belief in Him and recognize your need for Him) :
Jesus, I am a sinner. I have tried to go my own way, be my own savior, but it has not worked. I have tried everything to be perfect, but I still fall short. I believe you died on the cross for me, that you made a way for me when there was no way. I believe you are the Son of God, and that you rose three days later from the dead and defeated death.
I now live for you. I now know I am a treasured child of God. I repent of my sins and turn to You. thank You for making me righteous.
Holy Spirit, have your way.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
you were never too far gone. you are treasured, chosen, and loved. you are a new creation. Jesus love you.
may you rest knowing the work Christ did on the cross 2,000+ years ago is still good news today.
until the next blog:)
