Month: August 2025

Imagine,if you will, standing in court as the Judge reads your verdict. “Guilty of sin.” You know the penalty is death, so you tearfully admit your guilt and throw yourself on the mercy of the court.The Judge responds, “Many years ago, I left this seat of judgement and offered my life in place of all who were sentenced to die for their sin. The third day after my execution, I rose from the dead and returned to this seat to prove I have the keys to life and death. My sacrifice is a gift of God’s mercy and grace. You can’t earn or merit it, but you can take possession of that gift by believing in me as your savior and following me into God’s presence forever.” You drop to your knees and cry out, “I believe in you and will follow wherever you lead me. I will never stop thanking you for saving me.” The gavel sounds one last time with two beautiful words, “Case dismissed!”

Sadly, many have not taken possession of God’s gift of mercy and grace, but those of us who have will never forget that moment and never regret that decision.

Many people look at the Christian life as very restrictive and somber, like being in a monastery. One old friend refuses to attend church because he would no longer express his true feelings with blunt language. Others see the laws and teachings of scripture as fences or even the bars of a cage keeping us from doing what we want to do.

Since I became a believer in and follower of Jesus Christ, I have actually been set free from many things. I am free from fear, worry, doubt, guilt, depression and loneliness. In the words of an old spiritual, “I’m free from the fear of tomorrow, I’m free from the guilt of the past.” A more modern worship song says, “I’m no longer a slave of fear. I am a child of God.”

It turns out, those restrictive fences are actualy guard rails allowing us to move safely and freely through life.

Engraved on a wall of Mother Teresa’s home for children in India is a revised version of Keith Kent’s poem Paradoxical Commandments. I think it is a great description of my Christian life over the years and I want to share it with you.

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.
if you are kind, people may accuse you of having selfish ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you may gain false friends and real enemies.
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you.
Be honest and frank anyway.
What has taken you years to build, someone may destroy overnight.
Build it anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today people will often forget tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
When you give the world all you have, it may never be enough.
Give your all anyway.
You see, in the final analysis it has always between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.

I remember someone once asked me, “What’s so great about the Christian life?” I don’t know if they were curious or sarcastic, but it was a question that deserved an answer. My problem was where to begin with so many things coming to mind. I chose the fout most important things in my life and began to share them.

#1. I have eternal life. Jesus Christ paid the price for my sins and will lead me into Paradise to join my loved ones in God’s presence forever.
#2. I have direct communication with God 24/7. Through the Holy Spirit Jesus planted in my heart, God is always there whenever I need Him.
#3. I am never depressed. When you are filled with gratitude, love and kindness there is no room for self-pity.
#4. I am never lonely. In addition to God being with me every step of the way, He has placed wonderful people in my life for fellowship, encouragement and love.

A while back, a dear friend posted about the Titanic. There were different classes of passengers on board and different levels of authority of crew members. But when the ship sank, the shipping office in New York published only two lists of those who were on board; those who were saved and those who were lost.My friend believes God sees sees each of us as either saved or lost spiritually.

There is a problem with that analogy. The engineers who built the Titanic believed it was unsinkable, so they didn’t include enough lifeboats for everyone on board. Many on that lost list were lost because of the decision of others. In contrast, the Creator knows everyone needs to be saved from sin so He provided the means for everyone to be saved if they choose to be. Only the decision of each individual will determine if they are saved or lost. Why must we decide? God created us with free will. He did not want an army of zombies mindlessly obeying. He wants a family of obedient children who obey because we love him and want to draw nearer to Him.

The bad news is that death makes our decision final. The good news is if your heart is still beating and your mind is still sound, you can decide to be saved from sin right now. All you need to do is admit you need to be saved, then believe in and follow Jesus Christ as the only one who can save you. (John 3:16-17) Your name will be added to the saved list and the angels will rejoice.I made that decision 71 years ago and have not regretted one second.