No One Said Life Was Fair

"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one come to the Father except through me" (John 14:6)

Not Fair?

Picture this. Your daughter's high school basketball team is down by one, and she makes a basket as time expires to seemingly win the game, but the referee calls it off claiming the clock had expired. The fans are angry. Your daughter is heartbroken, sobbing. She feels shame, guilt, and anger about the call; about not scoring a second sooner. She comes to you and through her tears, she cries, "It's not fair, daddy!" Or maybe it's you son's football game, and as the clock runs out to him scoring the winning touchdown, the referee throws a flag for holding. Game over. They lose.

Does it seem fair? NO. But, is is any less true? NO. At the end of the game, it's the referee's call. He holds all the power here. You? You are a helpless bystander. You can scream, argue, plead with him, but the final call is the referee's, and his call is the law.

The same is true of Christ's claim that He is the only way to God. Does it seem fair? NO. Is it true? How you answer this question may change the way you live the rest of your life.

Let me ask you this. Do you believe there is a God? A creator of the universe and all of life? Do you believe something happens to us after we die? Is there a heaven? How do we get there? Does everyone go? Just the good people? The people who follow "the rules"? What are the rules anyway? And can we truly, I mean truly follow every single one? If we can't or haven't followed every rule our entire lives, then what? Can someone save us from our shortcomings in spite of what we've done? What if God's laws were simply there to show us we need help to live our lives right? What if that help came in the form of a man whose only purpose on earth was to mend the relationships that we messed up, and through his actions gave us another chance to for evermore be at peace with those who love us most? What if this man's name was Jesus? What if I told you that He loves you more completely than anyone on this planet ever could? And what does He want from you? He just wants you to believe that what He did for you was enough. He wants you to love Him back. He wants you to live your life in the way you really want to, but somehow, for some reason don't or can't. He wants you to see all the great talents and gifts He's given you , and He wants you to use them for good. He wants you to love your neighbor, your family, even your enemy. He wants you to smile and find joy in all you see and do and experience. He wants you to find happiness and peace and rest in Him. Is that fair? Is is true? Can you believe it? I hope you do.

(inspired by Andy Stanley's book How Good is Good Enough?)