The Butterfly

The longer you live (and mature) in your existence here on Earth; there will always be those crucial questions that can’t be ignored, but instead require honest answers from you. Here are three of them:

1.  Is there any way an individual can enter Heaven by their own good works?

There are many selfless, (generous, and spiritual) human beings in the world. If they could gain access to Heaven (upon their death) based on their own merit, what purpose would it have served for Jesus death (and eventual resurrection)? How is it possible to have true faith in something that you have control over? (I Corinthians 15:12-17)

Ephesians 2:8-9 (MSG) summarizes it this way: “Saving is all His idea and all His work. All we do is trust Him enough to let Him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish. We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing. No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and the saving.”

2.  Once someone becomes a Child of God is there anything they can do to lose that relationship?

If you are a parent, is there anything realistically (no matter how awful it might be) that your (biological or adopted) child (or children) could do that would no longer make them yours (even if you disowned them)? The answer is “no.”

Though there are those who may disagree with me scripturally, once God adopts you as His child that union can never be broken. The Almighty is not going to let you “fall through the cracks” (or lose you).

John 10:29-30 (MSG) assures us of this: “My Father who put them under my care is so much greater than [Satan]. No one could ever get away from Him. I and the Father are one heart and mind.”

3.  Once an individual becomes a Child of God, can they still sin?

The process of becoming a “new creation” in God is much like the progression a mundane caterpillar goes through to eventually become a dazzling butterfly(2 Corinthians 5:17).

After this, one can still commit sinful deeds can occur that do not honor a loving Heavenly Father (Romans 7:14-20).

In this different way of living, one has the aid of God’s amazing grace in their pursuit of holiness (I Peter 1:13-16).

The Almighty always supplies multiple “second chances” when a mistake is made. This is always permissible (and encouraged) by God. (Ephesians 4:32)

                             

In all areas of life, it is important to know what the actor and comedian, Tracy Morgan, learned (the hard way): “The only thing that remains the same is change.”

Hebrews 13:8 (MSG) reminds us that the same guidelines for imperfect humanity do not apply to the Son of God. “Jesus doesn’t change-yesterday, today, and tomorrow, He’s always totally Himself.”

Isn’t it wonderful to know that in your busy existence that Jesus will never fail (or forget) you, or mess your life up. You can count on Him to do everything just right (as He sees it).

*Inspired by the sermon “We Believe: the Ordinances of the Church and Sanctification,” by Rev. Matthew Morgan, MA, LPC, April 3, 2016, Eastside Community Church, Gahanna, OH