While reading in Romans this morning,
I came to chapter 8. I don’t know how many times I’ve read this section, but instead of just cruising by (sometimes that happens with familiarity), verse 1 really jumped off the page at me. “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” The thought struck me that with all the bad news day and night for the past 5 or 6 months, we could use some good news today. And what could be better news than this verse?
I’m sure at one time or another, we’ve all been sent to the principal’s office, gotten spanked or a timeout from our parents, or gotten a speeding ticket. Chances are good we deserved every one of them. What if we had a friend who offered to take our punishment? Or a real-life get-out-of-jail-free card?
That’s the reality, the truth,
the good news of today’s verse. No condemnation. Try to wrap your mind around that. No punishment, no jail time, no permanent record of wrongdoing. Not guilty. I’m in.
Further good news. It’s available to anybody. But there is one prerequisite, the last part of the verse: “…for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Doesn’t seem like much of a requirement for all that we get in return. What’s the catch? Only that we have to be willing to give up anything that resists putting Christ first in our life, to put to death our pride, and come on God’s terms. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but through me.” (John 14:6) Jesus is THE ONLY way to God. Not good deeds. Not large donations.
We tend to focus
on what we have to give up rather than on what we get now and for eternity. We have a very near-term focus. Consider this. We may live 80 years on earth. The Bible says, “For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it passes by, or as a watch in the night.” (Psalm 90:4) A watch is 4 hours. A day has 6 watches. If we do the math, 80 years on our calendar is like 175,000 years in heaven. And at that point, eternity is still running the opening credits. The movie hasn’t even started yet.
Just as heaven is real, so is hell. It’s described by Jesus as “in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matt. 25:30) Doesn’t sound like a place I want to spend a minute let alone eternity. Jesus said, “…the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” (John 6:37) Don’t be like the rich man in Jesus’ parable who, when Jesus told him to sell everything and follow Me, “went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.” (Matt. 19:22)
There is nothing,
let me say it again, nothing you possess, nothing on your agenda, nothing in your past, present, or future that you shouldn’t be willing to shed in exchange for eternity with Jesus who IS the friend who took our punishment on the cross. Don’t let it be in vain.
Now that’s what I call good news. Stay tuned…