The thing I’ve come to love the most about God and His word is it’s all black and white. He and everything He says is so simple. It’s the world, the human piece, that makes life complicated. God’s way is simple, not easy, but simple. Following the world is easy, complicated, but easy. There’s no questioning when it comes to God. He means what He says and anything He says will happen, will happen. This includes that not everyone will be accepted into His kingdom, and this is a topic I don’t think is talked about enough.

We all know that “the evil will be punished,” but do we ever truly consider what “evil” is?

If you’re anything like me, the first things that come to your mind are the worst kind of acts – murder, rape, trafficking, etc.

But… that’s not all that “evil” is. Not with God, at least.

With God, right is right and wrong is wrong.

James 2:10-11

“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.”

If you’re guilty of one sin, you’re guilty of them all.

If you’re guilty of one, you’re “evil.”

Do you lie? Evil.

Do you cheat? Evil.

Do you steal? Evil.

Do you worship anything but God? Evil.

Are you claiming to be for God when you’re not? Evil.

Do you dishonor your parents? Evil.

Have you created something that holds more value to you than God? Evil.

Are you willing to make an extra buck on the sabbath day? Evil.

Do you want everything you don’t have? Evil.

If you’re guilty of one, you’re guilty of all.

And guess what? We’re all guilty of all because we’re all guilty of at least one.

That was the point. Jesus came to save sinners.

We’re all evil. Because we’re all born sinners.

None of us deserve to be saved. None of us deserve to go to Heaven and live in everlasting peace and happiness. We’re all guilty.

But God decided to give us the gift of His grace and mercy… and we’re saved anyway. And all we have to do is follow Jesus, and He made it simple:

Matthew 22:36-40

“Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

It really is that simple. Love God with everything you have and treat everybody else the way you want them to treat you.

The problem is…most of us don’t stop long enough to actually consider what it is we’re doing.

Would you want someone to lie to you just to spare your feelings?

Would you want someone to lie about you?

Would you want someone to start gossiping about you as soon as you leave the room?

Would you want someone to steal from you?

Would you want someone to claim a title and do nothing to support that claim?

Would you want to be alienated?

Would you want to be kept in the dark?

…

No one else does either.

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God wants us all to come to Him as His family.

To be His family, we have to behave as such. Otherwise, we’re not his family, we’re the Devil’s.

1 John 3:7-10

“Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.”

When you’re truly born again into God’s family, you turn away from sin.

You tell the truth, even if it hurts or makes you look bad.

You stand up for the truth when you hear someone else tell a lie.

You are grateful for what you have rather than wanting more.

You forgive even when you shouldn’t, because you know your Father forgives you when He shouldn’t.

You accept those the world rejects.

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There is no gray area with God.

Good is good; bad is bad.

Right is right; wrong is wrong.

Black and white.

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We only have this life to get it right.

After that, we get accepted or rejected.

Matthew 7:21-23

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

When that day comes, it won’t matter what relationships and ties you’ve built on earth. It won’t matter how much money you have. It won’t matter how big your house is. It won’t matter if you’re blood-related or adopted. It won’t matter what you look or smell like.

All that will matter…is if we chose to follow Him. To know Him. To love Him.

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Black and white – are you living a life worth saving?

If not, what’s stopping you?