Scripture Reference: Romans 3:21-31
The Divine Provision – Continued
Does true righteousness come from trying to live a good life and hoping God will reward our feeble attempts as many in the USA Weekend survey seem to believe? It would if God expected us to be sincere people with good intentions.
Neither approach, however, is acceptable to God. There is only one way to be right with God and settle the question of our eternal destiny. It is the way of faith . . . faith in the Christ who has done for us what we are incapable of doing for ourselves. What does it mean to have faith in Jesus Christ?
As an example, I read of an incident regarding a man who attends a well-thought of church. He was cutting firewood alone in the woods. As he was cutting down a huge tree, an unexpected and tragic event occurred. The tree rebounded off a limb nearby causing the base of the falling tree to swirl off its stump and land on his leg. He suffered a crushing blow to his right foot and ankle so severe that were it not for the leather boot he was wearing, his foot would have been severed at the ankle. Being a strong man, he sought to drag himself nearly a mile to the outskirts of the woods in spite of the difficulty and excruciating pain. It became increasingly apparent to him, however, he was not going to make it. At that point, he called for help. A farmer in a field nearby heard his pleas for help and came to assist him. Soon a rescue team in a helicopter flew him to a hospital where emergency surgery took place. By the time this incident was reported in the media, it stated that he is recovering with the hope that, not only will his foot be saved from amputation, but he will walk again someday without assistance.
When I first read this, I thought that his experience serves as an example of the meaning of faith. Although he may have wanted to be able to get to the hospital on his own, the fact is he had no option but to admit it was an impossible task and trust himself to the rescuers who could do for him what he was incapable of doing for himself. That’s what it means to have faith in Jesus. While we may want to entertain the illusion that our goodness (and our strengths) merits the grace of God, the fact is our goodness is hardly good enough. To trust Jesus means that I admit there is no way to win God’s favor by sincere and optimistic self-effort, but by a grateful acceptance of His Divine assistance.
Having seen, then, what God has done for us in Jesus Christ, we face again the question of the survey. What are your chances of going to heaven? Three observations are in order; the conclusion of which I hope will help you settle the question in your own mind once and for all.
Not chance, but choice. First, going to heaven is not a matter of chance, but choice. The choice is yours as well as mine. We may choose the way of self-effort and be destined to live a frustrated and defeated life. We may choose the way of chance and be destined to live in uncertainty and fearfulness and unfailing doubts. Or, we may choose God’s way which is the way of faith in Jesus Christ and live, not only in this life, but in the life to come. The choice is there. The decision is yours. Jesus stated it this way,
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Matthew 7:13-14).
But, you may find it. God’s way is right before you. The issue is, “Will you choose it?”
To Be Continued
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD 
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