Have you ever heard of someone trying to ride their bike to the moon? Yeah, me either. But this is much like what many people are trying to do regarding God. Seeking to experience God, live his life, and do his works through human effort. That is just like trying to ride your bike to the moon – simply impossible! Access to the works and life of God is by faith alone! Carefully consider Paul’s scathing rebuke to the church at Galatia!

Galatians 3:1-5 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes, Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.  I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law or by believing what you heard?  Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? 4 Have you suffered so much for nothing--if it really was for nothing?  Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law or because you believe what you heard?

The law does not access God’s life and power; on the contrary, it brings a curse! 

Galatians 3:10-14  10 All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” 11 Clearly, no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.” 12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man 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 tree.” 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.

The real works of God are not obtained through human effort but through faith in the provision for our righteousness through Jesus! The two most essential areas of believing God are believing in his reality within you and all around you and that he loves you! Many people talk about God but don’t actually believe him. For instance, you cannot honestly believe God is an all-powerful, ever-present God who is in love with you and still walk in fear! Many people agree that God loves them but don’t live their life in the reality of that love. Therefore, believing in the ideology of God’s love is much different than living in the reality of that truth!

God proved that he loved you by going to the cross and paying for every sin you have ever committed or ever will commit! Wow! Do you want to be radically changed? Believe that truth! Oh, yes! A new beginning is available for those who will, like a child, receive the wonderful truth of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus! Those who live their life inside this truth can never be the same again!

Think about it; because of the blood of Jesus, you are just as loved and righteous in God’s sight as Jesus! Letting go of all self-righteousness and sincerely trusting in God’s provision for your right standing with him is what he wants and is indeed life-changing!

Just as riding a bike will never get you to the moon, your good works will never get you to God! My dear friend, I would love to hear from you! Based on what you have been learning in these Encouraging Notes, I would love for you to let me know in your own words…

 How You Are Going to Get There