The Pastor's Blog

We live in dark days. Our world is angry and violent. Our nation is plunging headlong into sin and secular humanism. Our schools are reeling from the effects of removing God from the classroom (as if we really could). We not only fear attacks from those on the other side of the globe, we fear attacks from those on the other side of the street. 

As Christians we study our Scriptures and discover that our own hearts are pretty dark as well. We often deceive ourselves, believing we are better than we actually are. This causes us to wonder why bad things happen to such good people like myself. I go to church pretty often. I even put some money in the offering plate last week. I listened to the preacher, although I didn't agree with everything he said. I'm pretty good.

The Scriptures graciously tells us something quite differently. My heart is desperately sick, and it is horrificly bent on not loving God. It is depraved and dark, polluted and prideful. It is not righteous, it does not do good, and it does not seek God. So, why do I call this gracious news? Because God has illuminated your condition, but He does not leave it there. He illuminates the cure. He shines light on the salvation of our seemingly hopeless situation--and that light is none other than Christ Jesus our Lord.

First John 4:10 tells us, "In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." So often I highlight my love for God, and yet the Bible says, "If you want to know what love is, consider this. God sent His Son into the world to endure the punishment for my sin, enduring God's holy wrath against my rebellion. He has satisfied God's just demands, and I am forgiven." Amazing love, especially if you consider the condition of our hearts, and especially if you consider the fact that I still do not love Him with all that I am, though that is what He rightly deserves. I find myself still rebelling against Him, though He loved me so.

Do I deserve to be saved? Of course not. Do I deserve to be kept saved? No, I do not. But Christ has paid my debt, and the Father loves the Son and rewards Him for His sinless life and sacrificial death on my behalf. He will therefore never abandon me; He will never forsake me. Though I am unfaithful, He will never fail to be perfectly loyal to His commitment to His Son, who shed His blood on my behalf. This is why I praise my Lord Jesus Christ. This why I go to church, and sing the hymns, and pay the tithe and listen and study the Word--not because I am meriting His favor, but because I have His favor by the merits of Christ! Christian, the Lord your God will never--no, not ever--abandon you, and it all because of Jesus. To Him be glory for ever and ever!