Employing Everything

Imagine an epic game where two teams face pressure to defend their precious treasure while employing offensive acts to overtake the other team…It’s Capture the Flag. Additionally, your captain demands full participation as it is Friday and your last chance to claim victory on the game field at teen camp. Taking on your role as a defensive guard, you patiently wait for an intruder to invade your soil. You spot the “Speedy Gonzales” of the opposing team entering the ground you are guarding so you make a run for him; however, you are losing your gained ground and dive to remarkably catch your victim.

Well, that was me in the summer at Amazing Grace Baptist Camp. I fought my hardest and was forced off the field as blood was running down my arm from sliding across a gravel driveway. Although I may have stopped one player, sadly another crossed our cherished territory to humiliate us by seizing our precious flag. We walked off the field defeated. Even though I gave everything, I still lost. The same is true for my spiritual salvation because I can try my hardest but still cannot save myself.

An illustration could be like getting across the Grand Canyon since no one can jump across the Grand Canyon. Some will make it farther than others, but all fall short. It does not matter if you sin less than other people. You must be sinless to obtain God’s holy standards. Only one has ever lived a sinless, perfect life: the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 5:8 proclaims, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”. Our works are worthless and compared to filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). Titus 3:5 declares, “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,”.

Everyone deserves separation from God but through God’s incomprehensible love, grace, and mercy, He made a way to be right with Him. Christ’s death and resurrection paid the penalty for our sins. 1 Peter 2:24 says, “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.”. Have you trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior? If so thank Jesus for giving His life so you could have your sins forgiven. If you are unsure, please click here for more information about God’s plan of Salvation. You can try to employ all your strength on your own but still be lost in sin because only Jesus Saves.

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus"

Romans 3:23-24