Disobedience Does Not Remove Our Inheritance
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore, I will hope in him.”[1]
Lamentations 3:22–24
When I was a child, I don’t quite know what I was taught in Sunday school, but I do distinctly remember fearing the idea of “going to Hell.” I don’t know if I wasn’t paying attention to the doctrine of God’s grace through Jesus or if I was never taught how it works, but I was 100% certain that the moment I uttered a cuss word that I would immediately teleport into a lava filled inferno with Devils and damned spirits! So, you could imagine how felt when I did slip up during a game of soccer, where the ball went over a fence, I didn’t want it to go, and I immediately uttered the dreaded “D” word. At first, I tried to rationalize that I would be ok, but then I begin to get very worried. So, I did what most kids would do in my position I asked the other kid I was playing with, “Hey have YOU ever cussed.” To my mortification and dread he said NO! So that was it, I knew from then on for all eternity that I would never be forgiven nor allowed in Heaven. I’m still recovering from this event come to think about it…
“But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
The Good News: Grace Renews Every Day
Much like I had to “spot check” that I was not alone in my disobedience, I take comfort in the men of the Bible who have also slipped up in their lives. We call those who are not perfect: human; however, the Bible calls them “Men and Women of Faith.”[1] Though these men and women lived lives of disobedience, they put their trust in God and took comfort in His faithfulness. Not to say that disobedience is not serious, but that God’s character shines brighter for us in our own deepest darkness. Those who are sick don’t care about where we find the cure, as long as we know we have a cure. It was our own disobedience that necessitated Jesus to the cross (which He did willingly from a heart of love for us). It was our disobedience that caused famine, curses, broken relationships, corrupt governance, wars and leadership enough to blacken the land with chaos. We refused to make God our king, rather than the things and people of this world. It was this evil that necessitated a place reserved to quarantine the obstinately disobedient: Hell. But Perhaps without those dark patches in our lives, we wouldn’t come around to appreciate the beauty of God’s grace. We see traits such as perseverance, self-sacrifice, mercy, love, faithfulness, and an inheritance where sin will not taint nor tempt us again in Heaven. Let us return to the source of our joy, beauty, and inheritance. So, this year we can take comfort in Jesus words that He will “Make all things new” today and in the years to come.[2]
-written by Jake Richardson
[2] Revelation 21:5 “And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”
Jake currently serves God and country while attending seminary at Dallas Theological. He lives in Fate with his wife Leanne, two children, pug and cat. He enjoys lots of caffeine, learning interesting things and people. You can contact Jake HERE!