Created for God’s
fellowship
God created us for His benefit not ours. He wanted to love
us and fellowship with us. We are privileged to glorify and serve Him. Somehow
throughout time, we (mankind) came to believe we are here in God’s creation so
we can do what pleases us, get what we want and live like kings. We are destructively
deceived in our assumption. When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, man’s relationship
with the Creator changed big time! Our very nature took on the reality of
corruption so that we are born inclined away from the will of God. Where does
this put us in our relationship with our perfect, Holy, heavenly Father? Separated! We are no longer connected to
Him as He designed us. But by His grace He has allowed us an escape plan from
what would otherwise be our inevitable dead-end – the sacrifice of His Son
Jesus, our blessed opportunity for redemption.
Many may think being involved in good works for the Lord
earns them favor with God or forgiveness for the way they have lived in the
past. It doesn’t. It is a lie of Satan that any of us by any stretch of our
imagination can substitute good works for the grace of Jesus Christ. In (Isaiah
64:6 NIV) God’s prophet revealed whatever “goodness” we have and whatever works
we perform, they amount to nothing more than filthy rags, in terms of earning
our salvation. We are only saved from eternal death and damnation by our
redemption and our bending back toward our Father God.
Being a Christian is not about “works,” attending church,
being a good person or trying to set a good example before others; although
Christians do honor God by doing these. A Christian is one who has honestly
asked God for His forgiveness, believed in His Son Jesus, acknowledged that His
Son died on the cross for our sins, that He rose again, and who has asked Jesus
to come into their hearts to lead them in the ways of the Father.
This forms the foundation of what we, as Christians,
believe.