The following post was written by Mike Cala. Mike is a man's man. He likes to throw knives and watch MMA. His focus on God's grace has encouraged me countless times, and I pray will encourage you too.
“There is nothing you can do to get closer to God”. The pastor’s words echoed in my heart and mind. The truth exposed in that simple statement summed up the thoughts and prayers that had lain in my heart for some time now . . . nothing I do brings me one single step closer, makes me one single bit “more saved” or a “better Christian”. I came to Jesus through His grace and mercy alone; I remain in Jesus solely through that same grace and mercy (Ephesians 2:1-5, 8-9). That eternity-wide gap that kept me from salvation and knowing Jesus could not be breached by anything I could do – my efforts would have been less than nothing.
Now that I am forgiven and live in relationship with Jesus, why do I continue to try to become something I will never achieve by my effort? Attending church will not make me more of a Christian. Prayer will not make me more “saved”. Reading the Scriptures daily will not move me one millimetre closer to the throne of God. Neither will what I wear, eat, drink, read, listen to, how much I tithe, what missions I give to or who I have as friends . . . Doing the “right” thing is not what it means to be saved (Galatians 2:16; 3:1-6).
I am as close as any created being could possibly be – kneeling at the foot of the throne of the Living God, held in the scarred arms of my Saviour and Lord. I am there in the shadow of the cross, fully dependant on His redeeming love and the relentless flow of mercy and grace that comes from His sacrifice.
There is awesome freedom in this! My inability to come any closer to God also means that my failures cannot move me one single inch away from Him! If I have not prayed for I couple of days . . . I am in the same place! If I have neglected my devotions . . . I am still secure! If I have failed or sinned in any way . . . the redeeming blood of Jesus holds me fast!
So often we find ourselves feeling that our failure or weakness has moved us “away” from God. We then have to “make up” for that by being extra diligent in our behaviour or spending more time reading the Bible or doing whatever . . . don’t believe the lie! Jesus is always right there with us, holding out His arms, dying for us to simply turn to Him and be with Him. Nothing to repay, nothing to make up for, nothing to set right. Because there is nothing we can do. It’s all in Him.
(Apologies if my beginning quote is misphrased, the pastor assured me it’s pretty close)
