When I look at myself, I don't see how I can ever get to heaven. I see the filth that still exists within my heart, the objectionable traits of character, the wrongs that I do quite often. It is unthinkable how such a wretch as I can enter those pearly gates. But then amid my despondency, I see the face of Jesus, my savior, as He smiles at me. Oh! How lovely He looks, then I hear His sweet voice assuring me that there is forgiveness with God: there is acceptance full and free through His merits. He declares, "I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins." Isaiah 43:25.
He sees the amazement in my face, the distrust in me manifesting itself. Will not the Father reject me? Have I not wandered far away from Him? He stills my fear and doubts through His word, in loving tones. He says, "Fear not little flock for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom," Luke 12:32. Ah! What peace floods my soul as those words fall on my ears. So it is not only Christ, my dear savior, that wants me in heaven but even the Father. The one whose law I have greatly broken is delighted to give me a place in heaven. What a beautiful thought this is, the price of our redemption is settled. No condemnation now I dread. Jesus has paid it all. We are accepted in the beloved, Glory! Glory! To His name.
This is the mystery of mercy into which angels desire to look – that God can be just while He justifies the repenting sinner and renews His intercourse with the fallen race; that Christ could stoop to raise unnumbered multitudes from the abyss of ruin and clothe them with the spotless garments of His righteousness to unite with angels who have never fallen and to dwell forever in the presence of God*.
The thought gets even sweeter when I think that even if I were the only sinner in the entire world, Christ would still have died for me. The love and watch care that God has towards us is so special that He treats every individual as if there was no one else on earth. That love is so broad, so deep, so high. It is infinite. So loving is our God that He does not want to see anyone die; thus, He gave His only begotten son to die in our stead. That was a sacrifice that astonished the heavenly host, for in giving up His Son, the Father gave up everything He has. To save man, nothing was held back. All heaven was poured in that one gift, the man Christ Jesus.
Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God (1 John 3:1). We are justified, called, and chosen not because of any good thing that we have done but by the merits of what Christ has done. The theme of redemption how amazing it is! It is the central theme of the scriptures. Wonderful news! Man is reconciled to his Maker. The mighty argument of the cross blots out all iniquity, uncertainty, and distrust of the Father's love. Redeemed how I love to proclaim it, redeemed by the blood of the lamb through His infinite mercy. No language can describe my ecstasy; all I can say is thank you, Jesus, for such wonderful salvation.
What shall we then say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:31-39
And now, when I look to Jesus, I don't see how I can ever get lost and miss heaven.
* Great Controversy PP 415 par 2
I Cannot Tell Why