The EASY Button

In a recent conversation with my cousin, I was going over salvation with her and what she thought vs. what it says in Scripture. She was under the impression she had to have her heart free of "hate and unforgiveness" in order to be saved. She, just like myself has had some "spiritual abuse" and with that causing great confusion and skepticism toward anything "Christian" or God related. I have never told my whole story or testimony as to how I came to where I am today but shared with her some points as to why what she had been taught was wrong and what it really takes.

Scripture tells us that there is NOTHING, no works, no money, no sacrifice we can make that will save us other than accepting the gift of Christ's sacrifice. "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among people by which we must be saved [for God has provided the world no alternative for salvation].” Acts 4:12 AMP. If you aren't sure of the who, well Jesus of course. Many like to quote John 3:16 but rarely does anyone ever want to continue to read the words that follow...Jesus didn't just die, but He resurrected, walked the Earth for 40 days, and then ascended to the Father to return at later time. This is where my faith, your faith, our faith comes into practice. In the believing without the seeing. I mean, people walked and talked with Jesus and yet did not believe or had too hard of a time of letting go of the tangible. The rich man (Mark 10:17-27/Matthew 19:16-26) asked Jesus what it took to gain eternal life, and He could not fathom leaving all his riches to follow God in the flesh - that absolutely blows my mind!

Trusting the Triune God takes faith and hope that what we believe is right and has given us salvation and the assurance of Heaven. "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1 NIV. Having confidence and hope that what I and others believe is how we will be saved from Hell. The Amplified Translation adds, "divine guarantee and conviction of reality" to get the point across regarding faith. Again, it's nothing but our hope and faith in our belief of Jesus and what He has done to save humanity - and we all have the choice to take it or leave it. That is where the "easy" comes in regarding salvation but is it really easy? Again, our friend the rich man found it difficult to leave his wealth behind to follow Jesus, (if you don't know the story, give it a read), how many of us can relate? It's that step of EASY we have to take to get what money, works or sacrifice cannot buy.

The best example of EASY I want to share comes from the time of Jesus' crucifixion. Jesus and the 2 other criminals on the cross are suffering, the man on one side, "hurled insults at him: Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!" Luke 23:39. This man wants proof by being saved from physical suffering and death, he was playing the victim role, refuses to be responsible for his choices that brought him to his sentence. The other man, "Don't you fear God since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly; we are getting what our deeds deserve." v.40-41. This man knew he was wrong, he took responsibility and admitted that he was getting exactly what he deserved AND he KNEW and CONFESSED who Jesus was. He ends his statement with, "Jesus remember me"...He doesn't ask Jesus to save him or to get him out of the sentence he rightly deserved - a sentence we ALL DESERVE. Jesus' response is what we hope to hear, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." v.43.

As I explained to my cousin, that criminal confessed that he was in the wrong and wasn't asking Jesus to do anything other than to remember him. Jesus extended him mercy and grace, to be in paradise without him needing to have a heart clear of hate, unforgiveness, or even sin. Jesus just wanted his heart, and in that confession the criminal's heart is inclined towards Jesus'. It was that EASY, even on the verge of death this man was going to Heaven. There was and is no need to come to Jesus in a perfect way. Jesus makes us perfect when we allow Him to work in our heart. We don't have to come already knowing Scripture, having a theological background, clean of drugs or the roots of sin....NO, Jesus will take us completely imperfect like that criminal. Knowing I needed Him, knowing I couldn't do any of what I am doing today without Him, knowing I didn't have to be perfect for Jesus to allow me into His Kingdom is why I follow Him. Nothing you do will get you into Heaven - other than saying you need Jesus to be your Savior, that you believe He is God, died and resurrected, ascended and will be returning for His children. It's that EASY, no need to be perfect and have everything taken care of - That's something Jesus will do.

Warrior On!