Just a Thought: Thank the Lord I have been set free of both sin and my obligation to work it off! There are folks today who think they can earn or work their way into God’s favor. They are striving for heavens gates in hopes that when they get there, God will say, “You have done enough.” Somehow, they have summed up in their minds that some level of good is all it takes. In spite of scripture telling us there is none good, no not one. And that our works are as filthy rags compared to God’s perfection and holiness. Now, if I hold up a dingy white sock next to a black sock it looks good and white. But if I hold up a dingy white sock next to a purely bleached white sock, I can see or expose how short of purely white the other is. And it doesn’t matter who we are, sin has stained us all according to (Rom. 3:23). Leaving all of us at least in the category of the dingy sock compared to God’s pure holiness and righteousness. So, if you are planning to work your way into God’s favor or strive to get to heaven’s gate. You not only have the burden of your sin to overcome. But you still have the stain of sin to contend with. And the obligation to make that as pure and holy as God’s perfection is impossible to accomplish. How good is good? Whose standard of good are you using? How much work is enough? What work is it that makes it enough? The stress and the obligation of those thoughts alone are an overwhelming burden! Who can earn God’s favor? Who can please the Lord enough? How does one know when they have pleased God enough? What if you do all this and even if it could be possibly true (which biblically it is not). What if at the last minute you mess up and undo all you have done? A life like this would tie me in knots! Which is why I say, Thank the Lord I have been set free of both sin and my obligation to work it off! The Apostle Pau explains it like this. “Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.” (Rom 4:4-8) To one man his works (even though unaccredited to him) is weighed down by his attempt to work his way to God. But the one who trusts in the Lord to cleans him, purify him and justify him of his stain of sin is free! Free from having work for it. And free of sin itself! Blessed or happy is that man!! My friend, you can be happy to give up the burden and obligation of having to try to work off your sin today! Simply trust in the Lord who has provided your salvation through Jesus’ life, death, burial and resurrection. It is through this God forgives our sins and grants us our expectation of eternal life with Him (Rom. 6:23) so, we can live free! Have you put your faith and trust in Jesus yet? If not, do it now!!
