Why You’re Never Too Far Gone

Have you ever sat at the bottom of a pit and wondered, “How did I get here?!”

I found myself asking that question on and off during my years apart from God. They were anything but holy years. There were nights I don’t remember, things I wish could be erased, and times I wondered if God would ever forgive me – should I decide I needed Him again.

If that storyline sounds familiar, I have the most wonderful news for you.

It doesn’t matter what you’ve done.

There’s no such thing as your sin being worse/better than someone else’s.

The “he loves me, he loves me not” approach doesn’t exist.

There’s no 20 step program to work through first.

You can throw feelings of being unworthy, a lost cause, too embedded in sin, and/or prodigal child regret out the door.

Jesus loves you, no matter what you’ve done.

So much so, He gave his life for you.

In Luke 23, we read about the crucifixion and death of Jesus. As He is hanging on the cross, between two criminals, one of them speaks out. In the very last minutes of their lives, he recognizes/realizes Jesus is the promised Messiah. The criminal says to Him, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Look closely at Jesus’ reply.

“Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23: 43 NIV

No anger, no need for special words, no clean status requirement, no refusal. The man’s faith in Jesus, even at the last hour, was enough to spend eternity in heaven.

Jesus did the same for me. He doesn’t hold my time wondering in the desert against me. He hasn’t hung the laundry list of sins over my head. He’s never once told me I wasn’t good enough to reclaim the gift He gave me as a child.

Friend, Jesus will do that for you too! It doesn’t matter if you are in the deepest, darkest, bloodiest pit of hell. There’s no need to wonder if you could ever be forgiven. You already are.

John 3:16 tells us,

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” NIV

Whoever believes… Do you believe???

Heavenly Father, You’ve given me my story for a reason. It’s super messy! But also full of grace, mercy, redemption, forgiveness, and freedom. All from believing in You. I pray for those hurting today, wondering if they too could be forgiven. Abba, reach them in ways only you can, help them find freedom in Your name. May Your words of love touch their innermost being and act as a balm to their seeping wounds. Thank you for sending your Son, so we can experience peace and place our hope in something much greater than the world could ever offer. Amen.