It's NOT a point system!

 

Faith is about believing, not doing. 

I had a discussion with my grandson because I am starting another time of fasting and prayer. I just came off a 30 day time of fasting and prayer. He told me that I am going to run out of "GOD POINTS." We had a fun, lighthearted discussion about that not being very Biblical. But, it did make me think about what the world believes.

In reality, many people look at their relationship with the LORD as being a balance scale and we are earning rewards by DOING SOMETHING. So many people limit God by our own, humanly devised point system. If we run out of points, we need to do more things to fill up the scale. That is just not true. 

God is not a GREAT SCOREKEEPER. He is a God of FAITH, not works. 

I was reading the story of Lazarus in Luke 16 this morning. Lazarus was a poor man who believed and he was rewarded for his faith in heaven. But the RICH MAN, who had everything in life and was focused on worldly things, trying to earn his place in heaven, was suffering in Hell. Desperately the RICH MAN wanted the Lord to send people back to save his lost family. The end of the story goes like this:

"The rich man replied, 'No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.' But Abraham said, 'If they won't listen to Moses and the prophets, they won't be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.'" (Luke 16, 30-31, NLT)

Jesus  came back to life. He defeated death. He rose from the dead and, still, so many people do not believe. You would think if someone returns from the grave, that would be pretty believable. Yet, much of the world does not believe. 

We are so stuck on believing that we can earn our way to paradise. We cannot! We must have faith that Jesus came to earth, lived a sinless life, was persecuted and then crucified. We must have faith that Jesus defeated death by rising from the grave three days later. He defeated death so that sin can be defeated in our life. There is no point system. There is no way to earn our reward. Grace tells us that our salvation is a free gift and it is only given through our faith in Jesus Christ. 

There is no point system. There is not way to earn our way to being with Jesus in Heaven. 

Heavenly Father, we believe and I am so glad you gave us the chance to enter paradise even though our debt is great. I trust you and love you more than I can express and that love comes from YOUR AMAZING GRACE. Amen!

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If you haven't repented of your sin, accepted what Jesus did for you on the cross, dying for your sins, or if you have not committed your life to Jesus, TODAY could be that day. give your life to the Lord. 

"because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." (Romans 10:9-10, ESV)

If you gave your life to Jesus today, text the word "faith" to (765)-896-4302 and we will follow up with material for you and join you in your walk of faith!