Don’t ask for what you deserve

Lie:  I deserve better

Truth:  I deserve hell. God doesn’t owe me anything. I owe Him everything.

Whoa!!! That was a rough beginning wasn’t it, especially for a Friday – saying we deserve hell. Stick with me here – don’t touch that dial, click on the clicker, hit the home button on your iPhone, hit the back button, or touch the remote. It’ll be okay, I promise.

Think about it now, do we really deserve hell? Well…yes we do. But I thought I was a fairly good person; I try to do right, sure I make mistakes like everyone else but I haven’t murdered anybody or anything like that. I’m not any worse than most people I know, in fact, I think I’m okay.

Here’s the thing, you don’t get into heaven by how good you are or how many good things you do. On your last day you’re not going to take two bags with you, one full of the good things you did and the other with the bad things and hope the good weighs more than the bad. It doesn’t work that way. Nope we all deserve hell – but hold on – there’s good news.

First, why do we all deserve hell? No sin enters God’s presence. We “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”. (Romans 3:23) Therefore, because of our sin, even a little teenie tiny one, we deserve hell. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

The last part of that verse is good news, isn’t it? Yes there was a great exchange made at the cross and through the resurrection of Jesus. He took my sin on himself; He paid the debt that I could not pay. He took my death penalty, what I deserved, and gave His own sinless life in my place. In exchange I have new life now and will spend eternity with Him. I acknowledged my sinful state before Him and asked Him to forgive me. I turned my life over to Him. I received what He offered. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) There is only one way to heaven and that is through Jesus Christ. (Check out Acts 4:10-12)

I realize I am probably preaching to the converted, but I think we need to remember what our salvation is all about, what it took for us to be free. We need to reflect on the cost once in awhile. It should never get old.  We should never take it for granted.

So back to the beginning, don’t ask for what you deserve – we know what that is! Instead receive the life that God offers. Don’t live dissatisfied thinking you deserve more – find your satisfaction in the One who loves and cherishes you the most.

See you all next Tuesday. Monday is a holiday so I will be relaxing with my family and will not be posting that day.