A while ago I was in an airplane next to a man who claimed to be an atheist. So, I asked him, “So are you against religion as much as I am?” He had already asked me what I did as a profession, and I told him I was a pastor. He was shocked and said, “Isn’t that an oxymoron? You said you are a pastor and yet you are against religion?” I said, “Yes, the self-righteous, religiosity of man is the root cause of everything that is against God in this world.” Many times, we don’t realize that the most wicked and vile thing there is in God’s sight is trying to be righteous and good enough to deserve him.

Romans 1:18-21 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For, ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

Many who claim Christianity are the very ones who are preventing the real truth of God’s grace and mercy to be made known. The old covenant, the law, is what points us to our failure and sin, but the new covenant is the Good News (Gospel) of our right-standing before God as granted by the blood of Jesus. The most dangerous thing a person can do is to try to earn God’s favor through their own righteousness. 

Galatians 3:10-14 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” 11 Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.” 12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

When Adam and Eve sinned against God, they entered into the life of condemnation and failure; trying to be good enough to be right with God. There is a better way to serve God – it is by living in his grace! The universe and all of creation is loudly declaring the reality of a powerful, creative, eternal God, who through the very creation is passionately declaring his longing for us. Romans 2:4 tells us that it is the loving kindness of God that draws us to a place of changing our minds. Allow God’s compassion and goodness to penetrate your heart today! He is longing to be gracious to you! You must believe it! Whether you are looking at a worm, an ant, an elephant, a tree, the ocean, the stars or anything else in all of creation, you will hear the declaration of God himself! He wants everyone to know of his crazy, amazing love! He is talking…

ARE YOU LISTENING?