If People Only Knew….

If people only knew how forgiving God is, they wouldn’t continue to torture themselves by choosing to live without Him. The only thing it costs you is your pride. Pride is why Lucifer was banished from Heaven. If pride is associated with Satan, why do people continue to choose pride over forgiveness? The Bible tells us, “Pride goes before a fall” (Prov 16:18). Is your pride worth falling for? Would you rather listen to Satan over God? Mercy is offered by God to all people, and yet forgiveness is denied because of a pride issue. Maybe by examining our heart, we will realize that pride and forgiveness are enemies. They cannot co-exist and there still be harmony in one’s life. The ultimate choice one must make in this life in dealing with our sin issue is this: are we willing to receive God’s free gift of forgiveness, or are we going to try to fix it ourselves (which is impossible). Pride makes the “impossible” seem achievable, while Grace allows us to receive forgiveness with humility. God doesn’t change, His offer of forgiveness is always free for us to receive. If forgiveness is necessary for us to be made right with God, why would anyone deny themselves of the ultimate free gift?

1 “O Israel,” says the Lord,“if you wanted to return to Me, you could. You could throw away your detestable idols and stray away no more.2 Then when you swear by My name, saying, ‘As surely as the Lord lives,’ you could do so with truth, justice, and righteousness. Then you would be a blessing to the nations of the world, and all people would come and praise My name.” 3 This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and Jerusalem: “Plow up the hard ground of your hearts! Do not waste your good seed among thorns.4 O people of Judah and Jerusalem, surrender your pride and power. Change your hearts before the Lord, or My anger will burn like an unquenchable fire because of all your sins. Jeremiah 4:1-4