We Are Declared Righteous

Meditation

But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. How much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath.

(Romans 5:8-9)

I confess, I was a despicable, unworthy sinner for most of my adult life. I was self-centered and dishonest with the acquaintances in my life. I thought I was smarter than the religious “nuts” in my life. I was too shrewd to need saving from a lifestyle I thought was just fine. Since I didn’t believe in God, I didn’t worry about the consequence of my actions. Even with all that sin in my life, even though God knew two thousand years ago about those sins and how rotten I was, he sacrificed Jesus on the cross, to set me free. He, of course, was doing it for everyone else on the planet, throughout all the centuries, but I know he did it for me as well. When I weigh those two choices over in my mind, why would I not gratefully receive his offer of salvation?

I did receive him on 10/24/98. It took me a little while to get baptized, but I finally did that on 1/1/06. I know I’m covered by the righteousness of Christ and washed clean by his blood. I am remorseful, beyond imagination, about my sinful past. I’ve had many sleepless nights thinking about my past sins. I have repented and asked for forgiveness and I know it’s been granted. I’m not worried about where I will spend eternity; I’m promised to spend it with Jesus. I do, however, worry about my unsaved family and friends. They don’t get how much they need saving any more than I did before I was saved. In their minds, they’re good people, AND THEY ARE, but they are not as good as Christ, and he’s the standard by which we all will be judged.

One thing I do know, even if believers still alive when the Father is ready to pour out his wrath on the earth, we will be saved from that holocaust. God’s wrath has only been poured out on the earth twice that we’re told about in scripture. The first time, he destroyed all land-dwelling life on earth except for the eight people and the animals on the Ark. The second time was when he destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah with fire and brimstone. In each case, he rescued the believers before his wrath was let loose. Since we are the Bride of Christ, we will be rescued from the coming fury when Jesus comes in the clouds and yells, “Come up here!”

Prayer Time

Father, you are the personification of love. Everything about you shows your great love for us. Nothing is hidden from your sight and yet, you still love us even while we were wallowing in our sins. You sacrificed your Son, the second part of your person, knowing the vast majority of us would reject you, preferring to die in our wickedness. However, we who are washed clean by his blood, rejoice in the blessings of his righteousness. Help us to hold on to that joyful feeling and use it to drive us to share that good news. Jesus came first as a servant to bring the good news of salvation, but his next advent will be to exact your vengeance upon all those who remain unrepentant. His sacrifice has made us righteous in your eyes, Lord, so please, save us from the coming wrath. Soften the hearts of the unsaved, that they might repent and be washed clean in the blood of Jesus. Give us a heart like Jesus, to go out with your message to save the lost. We pray this in his name. Amen!