We are in Branson. We went to see Jonah at the Sight and Sound theatre. A major struggle (as portrayed in the show) for Jonah, was preaching to the Ninevites. Jonah didn't think they were worthy of forgiveness. He also didn't think it was fair for them to be shown mercy. I couldn't help but think about the prodigal son, and how his brother felt. Or Martha, when Mary was listening to Jesus teach. Some of us are doers, and we want to be acknowledge for our hard work and faithfulness. And sometimes, we feel we've earned God's grace.
What about the theif on the cross? How convenient! He accepted Christ right before he died. He'd lived a terrible life on Earth, and yet, HE gets to be in paradise.
Let's be clear. We are all sinners saved by grace. And not one of us, is deserving of God's grace or his unconditional love. I believe that is why these stories are included in the bible. To serve as a reminder.
Our only part of salvation, is believing. All the work was completed by Christ himself on the cross. So, obedience is great, and faithfulness. And there will always be benefits to "keeping the faith", but it doesn't earn us a place in God's heart or in his kingdom. That was all Jesus. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Lord.
So, if you catch yourself looking around at other believers and wondering how God could accept them, just remember,
"All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all." (Isaiah 53:6 NLT)
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