By Brenda Groves
The Post Newspaper Contributing Writer
Back in 1996 a man came into the insurance office that I was working at to meet with one of our agents.
He was a little early so we began to visit a bit, and pretty soon the conversation moved to God. It turned out this man was a born again Christian, and God had arranged a meeting with me as well.
Now, at that time I did not know God. Like many people, I knew some things about Him. Or, I thought I did anyway.
Over the first 33 years of my life I had caught glimpses of His character, these perceptions were gleaned from church, friends, relatives, movies, misguided theologies, along with my own experiences. Actually, I had very little sound Biblical truth in my life.
So, as I said, I knew a little about God, but I did not know Him. I believed that He existed, but I also thought that He was very distant from me. It seemed far reaching that I could actually have an intimacy with God. And sadly, many of the professing Christians I had encountered did not reflect a relationship with God that encouraged me to do the same.
Well, the visitor and I chatted a while longer as I proudly puffed away on my cigarette, daring him to condemn me for it as one of the “big sins.”
You know, drinking, smoking, adultery, fornication, drugs … etc. That’s what I was taught, these are the “biggies” that would earn you a ticket straight to hell.
But at one point in our conversation the man presented this question, ”Brenda, do you think you are going to heaven?”
I recall taking a long drag on my cigarette as I reflected on that question.
Let’s see, it’s true that I have done many bad things, but, all in all, I’m a pretty good person. I have done LOTS of good things too. Besides, I can think of many people who are way worse than I am.
And I do believe in God, so that counts for something. I honor God by going to church at Christmas and Easter (most years), I’m kind to the elderly, I love animals and tenderly care for them. I love my family and I like people. The ones who are nice to me, that is.
Plus, I always put some change in the Salvation Army buckets at Christmas. Therefore, I reasoned in my heart that all my good should far outweigh the bad things I have done. ( “… But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” 2 Cor. 10:12)
So, I exhaled a large cloud of smoke and replied, “Yeah, I think I’ll go to Heaven. I’m basically a good person.”
An expression of genuine kindness (not pity/superiority, or judgment) crossed this man’s face, and he softly posed another question.
He simply said, “What about Jesus?”
I sharply retorted, “What about Him?”
His next question stopped me in my tracks, “How do you measure up to Jesus?” Again, spoken with all compassion and respect for me.
Baffled, I remember thinking, “Gee, why didn’t you bring up Mother Theresa, I might have a chance with her.” (LOL!!!)
But compared to Jesus?
At that moment all of my pride, and self righteousness, deflated like a sad balloon. With downcast eyes I stuttered, “Well, I’um, I don’t measure up. I mean … He’s perfect.”
With unconditional love on his face the man said, “Well, according to the Bible, that is the stature that we must attain. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (“But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” Rev. 21:27)
That was the worst moment of my life, because for the first time, in a long time, I had to consider the truth, that I did not know God, or Jesus, and because of that, I was going to spend eternity in hell.
I was raised with this belief, and besides that, I knew that there is a heaven and a hell, and as a child I had this intuitive knowledge in my heart. But over time, I had allowed truths to be replaced with complacency, and lies from the devil. (Rom. 1:18-32)
I was basically a good person, but who wants to be the best sinner who goes to hell. (Lol!)
Actually, the true Gospel message is not a heaven and hell issue, though many churches have made that the main thing. It is true, that if a person does not repent/change their mind and receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, they will die one day and stand before the Lord and He will hold them accountable for their sins, which the wages of sin is death. Eternal separation from God.
But the Gospel message is “be reconciled back to God.” (2 Cor. 5:18)
The Bible tells us that it isn’t the individual sins that condemns us in this time of grace, it is the rejection of the Lord Jesus, who paid for the “sin” of the world. We are born with a sin nature and God is a Holy God, so “… that no flesh should glory in His presence.” 1 Cor. 1:29
All of our good works does not make us right with God, but putting faith in Jesus, the sinless Son of God who paid for our sins’ and took on our unrighteousness, so that we can have the right to stand with God. This relationship will reproduce good works to His glory, not our own. His testimony of the living God, living through us.
Well, a short time after that glorious encounter, I humbled myself, got down on my knees in my living room and called out to Jesus with all of my heart with this simple request, “God I want to know You.” “Jesus, I am not moving one step until I talk to You.”
He answered. (Rev. 3:20)
Suddenly I felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders, then waves of God’s unconditional love, grace, peace, forgiveness and mercy washed through me.
With joy, and surprise, I opened my eyes from that simple prayer and exhaled deeply exclaimed, “God! You are real! Jesus YOUR ALIVE!!”
At the age of 33, I was born again. (John Chp. 3) No longer separated from God in my spirit. Now we are One in the Spirit!
I guess you could say that I was basically a good person, yet all along I was spiritually “dead in my trespasses and sins,” but now I am the redeemed of the Lord. A blood bought child of God. Fully accepted in His kingdom. His beloved child. My name is written in heaven.
You know, I didn’t catch the name of that man who came to my office that day. I don’t even recall what he looked like in detail.
But, one day I will see him again, and thank him for taking the time to boldly speak the truth in love to a dead person, full of pride and devoid of life … for this I am eternally grateful.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
“Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3
“But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:8-13
“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Eph. 2:1-9
“Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and long suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance.” Romans 2:4
(All scripture taken from NKJV)
Contact Brenda Groves at: bkgroves1996@yahoo.com
