One Step Away

In July 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon. His famous quote, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” is still alive even after his passing in 2012. For those of us who remember that day some 57 years ago, there was a lot of pride that accompanied America’s huge first. For the parents among us, baby’s first steps are a source of bursting-at-the-seams pride too.

To motivate someone to get moving, it’s been said that a journey of any distance begins with the first step. As pedestrian as this statement is, there is truth and a sense of wisdom contained therein. So rather than respond with “duh” let’s look at some important aspects of that first step.

It’s been said

that if you don’t know where you’re going, any road will lead you there. When you’re on the wrong road it doesn’t matter how many steps you take, you’ll end up at the wrong destination. If you’ve read any of my other blogs, you know that I always get around to a spiritual application for whatever we’re discussing.

You could be on the right road, but you also have to head in the right direction. So location without direction means nothing. Are you coming or going? Moving closer or farther away? Life is really simple. There are only two eternal destinations: heaven and hell. And the right path is really simple too. Jesus told His disciples, “I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me”(Jn 14:6). Unfortunately, many people won’t choose this path because it requires humility and ceding control to the Creator of the universe.

I’m convinced

that if people really understood the implications of choosing the wrong path, nobody would. But our pride and the constant pressure from Satan and his minions to “go along to get along” and lies like, “The majority can’t be wrong” have many believing the lies because our egos are fed and stroked. And the glitter and shiny objects that grab and hold our attention create in us a false euphoria that buries its tentacles deep into our subconscious and we’re determined to grab all we can get.

Satan has convinced many that “religion” is stodgy, old fashioned,  and limiting of our freedom. That, in itself, is a lie. A relationship with Jesus is the most freeing thing we could hope for. We are totally free of our sins through nothing we did or could do. Jesus paid our ransom with His own blood so that we could be spotless as we stand before God at the final judgment.

And there’s the rub:

the final judgment. Many have bought the lie that all roads lead to heaven and they have been good enough or given enough money to worthwhile causes that they’ll “take their chances.”

There are two things that you must do if you’re an honest, open, seeker of truth. You must believe that God is real, heaven and hell are real, everybody goes to one or the other, and the Bible is true front to back. The other thing you must believe is that you’re a sinner, separated from the God who loves you, and on the wrong road until you resolve your sin issue.

If you can do that,

then you’re only one step away from the freedom found only in Jesus Christ. In the back of this book (or click here if you’re reading this online) is an appendix, Steps To Salvation. There you’ll find God’s perspective on your condition and the only solution to remove the sin and stain to prepare for your eternity in heaven.

God loves you. Satan doesn’t. He hates God and thinks he can get back at Him by taking as many as he can to eternity in hell with him. Don’t give him the satisfaction to add your name to the wrong list.