Drifting Far Away
Can I Earn My Way to Heaven?
It was just a simple toy boat. Not very big, and made of red plastic. Just the
kind any kid would love to play with. Somehow it found its way into the Atlantic
Ocean, near Shediac, New Brunswick, and because boats are made to float, it was
fine at first.
But as it continued to bob, unattended, on the surface of that salt-water bay,
it got caught up in a current, one that caused it to drift farther and farther
away from the beach. No matter how hard it tried to turn back, it was helpless
to change its course. The current was too strong for such a tiny plastic boat.
But even if it had been equipped with a motor of some kind, its efforts would
have been pointless. It might have initially made the boat feel better to be
"doing" something to get itself back to shore, but sooner or later it would
realize that the motor wasn't strong enough to fight the current, and it would
continue to find itself drifting farther and farther from the shore.
My youngest son, who was just ten years old at the time, was the first to notice
the little boat. It was about a kilometer away from us, and he headed straight
out into the ocean to rescue the toy. Fortunately I noticed him. Otherwise the
plastic boat wouldn't have been the only one lost in the vast ocean! Currents
have the reputation of sweeping children away as well as toys! No human efforts
could save it now. It was lost, lost for good!
Only One came to save those, who like that tiny plastic boat, are lost. It cost
Him His life, but when He rose from the dead on the third day, he could exclaim:
"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through me." (John 14:6 NIV)
And indeed those who were once lost were brought ashore, not through their own
efforts, but because of what the Risen One had done for them!
Have you noticed that most religions in this world are based on works? Ever
since ancient times it has been this way: "Let us offer our children to appease
the gods!"
Even among Christian denominations, many preach that we have our part to do if
we want to get to heaven. Human efforts are a must! They simply forget that
"Whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of
breaking all of it." (James 2:10 NIV). They also forget that "All have sinned
and fall short of the glory of God." (Rom 3:23 NIV)
So often I hear: "I try to do my best to reach heaven. As long as my good works
outweigh my bad ones, that's what counts! After all, I'm not a "Hitler" kind of
person!"
How different from what the Bible teaches: "And are justified freely by his
grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." (Rom 3:24 NIV)
There is no price for our redemption. Jesus paid it in full. All we can do with
our tiny human effort is to drift further and further away from God's grace.
Just like that tiny boat could do nothing to save itself, we cannot save
ourselves. "Know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith
in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be
justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing
the law no one will be justified." (Gal 2:16 NIV)
We forget that "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it
leads to death." (Prov 14:12 NIV)
What does God think of our efforts of earning heaven? "Are you so foolish? After
beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human
effort? 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?" (Gal 3:3-5 NIV)
Only One can save us and give us real rest, and that One is not us. "Come to me,
all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matt 11:28 NIV)
It might initially be fun to swim after that plastic boat, but believe me, that
kind of fun will only be temporary!
(For more information on this subject read: A Single Drop of Water: Radical
Grace from the Book of Romans (1:16-17))
P. S. It's true that God calls us to love one another and to be helping hands.
But these are not geared to helping us obtain heaven, but rather, are an
expression of our thankfulness for what Jesus has done for us. Thank you Jesus!
You are the best!
Rob Chaffart