Not everybody is the same when it comes to spiritual matters. Some people, like me, were exposed to church services several times a week. On the other extreme, some people were never taken to church. Several years ago, I was asked to officiate a funeral for a ninety-one-year-old woman. The reason I was asked was because the deceased woman had no pastor. In fact, in all of her lifetime she had never been inside a church building.
This brings to mind an important question for all of us. Let us consider how it works that an individual becomes a Christian. The conversion of a person is not always the same as his neighbor. Everyone is unique and so is their spiritual progress or lack thereof.
Let us start with a basic agreement. None of us are perfect. ( Surprise, surprise -lol) We demonstrate our imperfection in so many ways. Some people seem to be naturally good. They don’t get into drugs or commit crimes. On the other extreme, some people can be vicious, cruel, mean, and do unthinkable things. These two extremes are not so far apart after all. The reason I say that is that everyone, to some degree, has demonstrated their flaws in thought or action. This is not to be critical of anyone. It is simply to say that because none of us are perfect, we will demonstrate our imperfections in a variety of behaviors.
Next thought is to acknowledge the existence of God. In the same way people have extremes, so do people have a variety of ideas for what God is like. Let us keep this discussion very simple. Can we agree that God is perfect? If we cannot agree to that point, then let us agree that God is significantly different from us in so many better ways. There is an incompatibility between the human being that has a negative history and God that has a positive history. In the same way that oil and water do not mix, so can the imperfect human not survive in the presence of the magnificent God.
So far, we have taken our discussion to the point that people are flawed, and God is not. Another comparison for this would be to light a match next to a gas line. Naturally, there would be an explosion, a repulsion between the flame and the gas. This is the most significant problem of humankind. The carnal cannot exist in the presence of the immortal. From that point, certainly we can all agree that people have a problem and cannot solve the problem on their own.
The only solution to this is from the direction of the Almighty God. Through the centuries of human existence individuals, tribes, groups of people have tried to appease their understanding of God. To that God answered in the Old Testament by establishing a system of blood shedding of animals. These animals had no way to solve the problem. However, faith in the system that God has delivered to people for the shedding of blood resolves the issue. Since we know that we are all sinners to one degree or other, and from one extreme to another, we find ourselves in the same boat. No matter how good or how bad we are there is no way for the frail human to be in the presence and fellowship of the divine God.
God’s ultimate solution was the sending of his son who was perfect in all the ways he lived. He had free will and used it as a final solution to resolve the problem of sin. When God looks at the believer, he does not see the fallibility of the person. He sees that shed blood of Jesus as a payment for sin. This is why we need to come to a place in which every individual makes a decision to accept God’s intervention or payment for sin. Instead of us having to face eternity based on our own merit, we can step into everlasting life with the promise gained through the shed blood of Christ. The person who allows Christ’s death on the cross to be his substitute and truly believes that Jesus is God resurrected from the dead – that person will do every effort to make a turnaround in their life with the help of God’s Holy Spirit and live in an honorable manner as a person redeemed from whatever degree of sin they have had.
So, this is how it works! We are all in need of a Savior. We cannot rely on good works. We cannot rely on being a good person. If that were the case, we should ask: how many good works or how much good must a person be to appease God? That would vary from person to person, wouldn’t it? The playing field is leveled because Jesus has intervened in our behalf. This is why, when Jesus was here on earth, he admonished his followers to spread the good word that salvation is based strictly on Jesus. After we accept Christ as Savior, then good works come into play. While we draw each breath, the question is always lingering over us. How will we face eternity? Can anyone in their own right think they can stand before the great Creator and present themselves on their own merit worthy of a delightful after life?
Christian Writer 