On a Level Playing Field

As humans, we learn early and continue to discover that positioning is extremely important in this life. We discover that in many instances, the first child seems to be the most important; the one who receives the most attention and praise.

As we move on, we discover there are titles and positions of importance in the school-world that we must seek to attain, if we intend to be anybody special on campus. Finally, we advance into the work world where it becomes very apparent that we have entered a new phase in the dog-eat-dog-world we are working our way through.

It seems we spend a great deal of our life jockeying for bigger titles, greater labels of distinction, and higher positions of authority. This trek is often difficult, time-consuming, and requires a great deal of effort. It also tends to bring a great deal of disappointment and discouragement.

The problem I wish to confront lies in the false perception that this is how it is when we come before God as well. We have a tendency to want to consider our own earthly gains, titles and positions as we come before God expecting to bypass some of the responsibility and obligation He places upon all humanity because we think we are somebody important or special.

The simple fact for all of us lies in the simplicity of the truth Paul shares that: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23 HCSB). From the king to the homeless man, we are all on a level playing field before God. All humanity stands guilty before God, drenched in the stains of sin. The result of this condition once again across the playing field is found in Paul’s words of warning that: “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).

Our sin stains produce death within us—eternal separation from a Holy God! But, it doesn’t have to end there. The curtain doesn’t close with humanity standing helpless and hopeless in his sin. Paul went on to encourage us by telling us that “God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us! (5:8). And a chapter later, he said: “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (6:23b).

It doesn’t matter how far you have advanced in this world or if you are a very simple person unknown to most; you enter this life on a level playing field before God. You come in as a sinner needing something you are absolutely unable to attain on your own. You cannot buy it. You cannot do anything in your power to bring about your own eternal salvation. Only God, revealed through His great love for humanity, could provide the means. And, He did it through His Son, Jesus Christ.

All you can do is surrender your life to Jesus! The Bible reveals the simplicity of this surrender in these words: “if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. With the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation” (10:9-10).

Don’t allow your position in this world to prevent you from discovering your great potential and the position you can have in Jesus Christ. Submit yourself to God and surrender your life to Jesus Christ today!

Scripture Reading: “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God” (John 3:16-18 HCSB).

Prayer: Father, I recognize that I have spent a great deal of my life chasing after the things that would supposedly bring happiness and fulfillment only to discover discouragement at the end of each path. Today, I have arrived at the place where I realize I need You! I need You to forgive me of my sin and my sinful ways. Please, cleanse my sinful heart and purify my life with the blood of Jesus Christ. I surrender myself to You. I confess Jesus as my Lord and with the help of the Holy Spirit, I will walk in the path of righteousness and purity seeking to please You in all things rather than myself. I do believe Jesus died for me and that on the third day, You resurrected Him to new life and because of that I can now have the new life You are granting me this day. Thank You so much for all of this and for all that is yet to come as You continue working in and through me…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!