In the window period between birth and death our life's experience tells us that generally we get what we strive after. Life teaches us that there is no gain without pain, that respect has to be earned and wages must be worked for. Life also teaches us however that some goals will always be out with our reach. Ladders will take you so high but don't try and build one to the moon. Saving hard and working hard may fund the cost of a car or even a home but for almost all us Buckingham Palace will be well beyond our reach! Strangely a common religious philosophy pins it's hope on attaining the eternal and infinite by self effort! If some of earths material wealth is out with our reach how hard would we have to strive to gain eternal life and access to heaven? The religious logic here just doesn't add up! Jesus turns these philosophical ideas of religion upside down. It was Jesus who:

1. Raised the standard we aim for, "God only is good" the Lord Jesus told the young man striving to impress God! Goodness and perfection are scarce commodities when assessed by the eye of God.
2. Jesus forgive sins! Earning a right to heaven is hardly compatible with a need for forgiveness!
3. Jesus did not get what he deserved, He died the just and perfect for us the sinner. The assumption that we get what we deserve from God is unwarranted, His Son broke the rule here. 

The apostle Paul, brings these ideas together here in Romans chapter 6 verse 23. Sin has wages, earned and gained. Sin brings us to death. It is infinitely easier to bring a man from life to death than it is to bring a man from death to life! Such a movement in the opposite and unnatural direction depends on the grace of God. It is the "gift of God" that is "eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

A video recorded on the banks of Loch Ken by Dr J Stewart Gillespie

The journey of life is a life long journey, given purpose by the "Living God" the originator and final judge of that life. Irrespective of religious conviction or encounters that same Living God speaks life long through events, conscience, encounters, creation and explicitly through His Word, written and living in Jesus Christ. He is interested in all men. Like the provision available to all that we recognise in some of our human and national institutions there is provision and availability for all. Perhaps especially over the past couple of years we have all looked upon and some have come to depend upon a health service for all, the National Health Service. Even if we have never used it, that provision is there when we need it and if we wish to avail ourselves of it. There is in Jesus Christ provision for each of us. He is the "Saviour of all men" and yet that great provision becomes real, life transforming and destiny changing when we take a step of faith. His is the title "Saviour of all men" and it must by for Jesus Christ to be the Saviour of any man. It is faith that transforms our relationship with God through Jesus Christ, from being the Saviour of all men to becoming my personal Saviour. The lesson is clear on the cross of Calvary; one Saviour with an open ear to the right and to the left and yet only one thief turned in faith, repentant and trusting in the Christ dying for his sins. 

May we desire a destiny enough to trust the one who holds that destiny.

TruthTrek from Grace in Christ 

Dr J Stewart Gillespie