Some of the teens at our church have had the privilege of competing at the state tournament level this year. Not just once, but twice; for basketball and baseball. That is an outstanding accomplishment.
They don't just let any team go to the state tournament. You must earn your spot there. You must qualify for state if you want to compete at that level. To put it simply, you have got to be good enough. You must meet their qualifications.
As disciples of Christ, we should be familiar with the concept of standards and qualifications. God also has a standard that must be met if you want to have fellowship with him for eternity. If you want to partake in the inheritance he offers.
I have good new and bad news about this standard that God has in place. You want the good news or bad news first? The bad? Ok.
You have already failed to meet this standard... miserably. Everyone has. In Romans 3, Paul says that all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. God is the definition of goodness and is the standard of righteousness by which he judges us all. To continue the bad news, there is nothing you can do to change this reality. On your own you are hopeless and destined for hell.
Now the good news.
God can change your reality; he can change this status. He can make you meet this standard. He can qualify you through Jesus. If you belong to Jesus, if you are a follower of his, this is exactly what he has done for you. He qualified you when you were not qualified. How ecstatic and thankful should you be?
12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. - Colossians 1:12-14
From Your Fellow Servant,
Steven McFadden
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