Can You Really Say You’re Sure?
No matter your projected confidence with this question, most, if being completely vulnerable & transparent, will admit that when the dust settles, the lights are out, they’re lying in bed staring at the ceiling… that they can’t be entirely sure.
No matter how good you have lived your life… or have tried to… something will always nag at you… something inside you will always ask, “Are you sure? Like REALLY sure?”
It’s a fair question, because the reality is quite frankly that we all are aware of all the ways we feel we never measure up… of the bad attitudes we can sometimes hide behind an innocent smile… the dumb, selfish choices we have made… the imperfections we know all too well are there in us. The blatant screwups.
The ways we have really messed things up….
The short, easy answer for every single one of us unfortunately… is, “We’re not good enough to go to heaven….” Not a single one of us is good enough, no matter how hard we may try to be.
How Much Do We Downplay the Seriousness of Our Inadequacies & Mistakes?
I think one of the most humbling books of the Bible is Numbers. “Lord, Change My Attitude,” by James MacDonald, does a great job at walking through the chapters of the book of Numbers, helping us to see the terribly harsh punishments God has used for things we count as barely a sin, such as complaining.
The first time I read through the entirety of the Old Testament, in my early twenties, I remember praying something like, “God, um… from a PR standpoint… this really does not make You look very good. If You wanted to come off as loving & compassionate… full of grace, love, & mercy… well, this is not how to do it. WHY would You include all this in the Bible?? It makes You seem so cruel! NOT loving!”
I don’t know for how long I prayed along those lines, really struggling with how harsh a picture it was painting of God & really not liking it much at all… but when His response finally came as a gentle whisper across my heart, boy was it a slap back to reality… in the gentlest way imaginable.
“I needed to show why Jesus had to die.”
WOW did that put me in my place IMMEDIATELY.
Never Trivialize Your Sin for Which Jesus Died…
You see, I don’t know about you, but I tend to trivialize certain “imperfections,” like complaining. And when I see such a harsh punishment as making the ground open up & swallow whole an entire family… well, that seems disproportionate.
But, looking at it from GOD’S perspective, we see things a little differently.
That God is PERFECT & cannot tolerate ANY sin, even the “SMALLEST” one because it mocks His perfection & holiness.
So anything short of opening up the ground & swallowing us whole for one “teeny tiny” sin is MERCIFUL.
We canNOT measure up. We could NEVER measure up. We fall short on so many different accounts that we aren’t even AWARE of.
And yet, by His MERCY, we have not been swallowed whole into the ground beneath us.
How Often Do You “Miss the Mark”?
Sin often means something akin to “missing the mark” & I think that no matter how good any of us may try to be in any area of our lives… we can’t with ABSOLUTE certainty & self-honesty, claim we hit the mark of perfection on every account over the entire course of our lives (or even just in one single day).
You are NOT GOOD ENOUGH to go to heaven. Me either. NO ONE is. No one ever HAS been & no one ever WILL be. We ALL fall short of the glory of God. PERIOD. (Romans 3:23)
So, if you feel like you are constantly on an uphill battle to be “good enough” for God… well, stop it. Stop it & surrender your heart & life to the One, Jesus Christ, Who paid for your debt on the cross & Who ROSE AGAIN, victorious over death AND your sin!!!
You canNOT “good” your way to heaven… because no matter your level of good, your good will never be good enough.
But… Jesus… HOPE
So, are we all doomed to Hell?
Without outside redemption… absolutely yes.
But… JESUS.
Christmastime, we celebrate Emmanuel, “God with us” when God, as Man, was born to us on earth so that He could die for our sins & that when we celebrate Easter, we can celebrate our risen-from-the-dead SAVIOR, REDEEMER, GOD.
Jesus is our only hope.
Jesus Paid It All, All to Him I Owe
Jesus paid it all… all to Him I owe.
He has washed me white as snow.
I am free, I am free.
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound.
Lord, I need You, oh I need You… every hour I need You.
He’s my One defense, my Righteousness… oh God how I need You.
By His blood, I am free.
What a precious gift He is to me.
The One, My Savior, Who has set me free.
Stop running. Listen to His knocking on your heart.
Do You Think You’re Good Enough to Go to Heaven?
Let Him come in. Let Him be your Lord. Let His blood wash your heart clean.
Jesus died so that you may live.
“… and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” (2 Corinthians 5:15)
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)
“The thief [Satan] does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy [you]. I [Jesus] have come that [you] may have life, and that [you] may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)
Jesus Died So That We May LIVE in HIM
Jesus died so that you could know the gift of eternal life in Heaven.
Jesus died so that you may have life, & have it more abundantly.
All to Him I owe.
Do you think you’re good enough to go to heaven? Or do you know what Jesus gave for you? Which will you choose?
Shine HOPE by turning to our One true Hope, Jesus Christ, & by telling everyone you know (& don’t) where to find the hope you have because Jesus died for you (& them).
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
***He is waiting for you… will you come?:***
***(Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8-10; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 10:9-10; John 14:6)***
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As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.
A Note from Michelle:
(***Check out my FREE Journal Printable Resources: “Accountability Partner Guide + Question Prompts” & “Bible Study Question Prompts ,” as well as “Prayers of Surrender” prayer guides!***)
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Fashion as a Force for GOOD:
Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Consider these pieces when shopping for friends, family, or yourself. Check out this week’s featured beauty!!
Dear Darling Pouch, Handcrafted in India
Create dignified jobs for women in India that allow families to leave the slums when you carry this darling hand-embroidered pouch!
This adorable, beaded Dear Darling Pouch is handcrafted by women earning a fair and dignified wage for her work in India. No detail is left out with this embroidered and hand beaded pouch that showcases the amazing craftsmanship of our Artisan Partners. Crafted to look like a letter with postage, the Dear Darling Pouch is perfect for those with a wanderlust spirit.
***SHOP Here, OR, Email me at michellehyde.tradesofhope@gmail.com with any questions, & I will message you personally with more information!! Thank you for inspiring HOPE around the world, Lovely!***
How Can You Help Artisans around the World AND Help Support MichelleHydeOnline.com?
#1 is PRAY. Financial help is great & helps pay my website fees & helps support these women artisans… but God’s help is always needed most… both for encouragement & for spiritual hope, through Jesus, for the women we support through our ethical fashion purchases. Always PRAY first.
Your purchases not only help these women, but my commissions help me in continuing this website/blog, encouraging women all around the world with the HOPE we have in Jesus. Win-win-win!
Have a wonderful week living for His glory in all that you do!
