JUMP TO GOD

Timothy said, “Let’s learn about God!”

His eagerness set the group’s tone as we studied the Bible. Even with a set lesson, I encourage truth seeking questions.  When Michael asked, “What is sin?” I was prepared. Then questions like Daniel’s: “How do you know God always existed?’ stretched me.

The discussion’s pinnacle came via a white board drawing. A simple line drawing depicting two steep cliffs which were separated by a deep gorge. I wrote “us” on one cliff and “God” on the opposite side with “sin” in the middle at the gorge’s bottom.

The Bible says: “The wages of sin is death.”---meaning spiritual death; separation from God. It also says, “All have sinned.”

The boys were catching on. Breaking God’s rules had created a chasm between God and themselves. This needs to be reconciled before life’s end, or it is forever in the pit.

I asked, “So how do you get across the mega sin pit?” Timothy answered: “Jump to
God . . . do a lot of good stuff.”

Here’s Timothy’s concept—though incorrect. Going to church, doing kind deeds, praying, giving money to charity and such are the muscle for the God-jump. At life’s conclusion we sprint full-tilt towards the sin-separating ravine. We vault ourselves frantically with all our good-works muscles towards God, believing that the gorge’s width is determined by our lifelong accumulation of bad works.

Timothy, the Bible says, “We're all sin-infected, sin-contaminated. Our best efforts are filthy rags.” Good works never enable a successful jump to God. So-- do this. Follow God’s plan. Jump to Jesus. His sinless life and death on a cross to cancel our sin debt is the only bridge to God.

Our part? Repent of our sins. Accept Jesus’ sin payment. Make Jesus the Lord of our life. Live for God.