Read: Romans 5:1-11
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (v. 8)
After a wonderful family vacation in Mexico, we still needed to pay one more bill. The Mexican government had enacted an “exit tax” that all international travelers must pay before leaving the country. As our travel agent, my brother, said, “We have to pay it or risk paying fines if we ever decide to enter this country again.”
Many people believe that God insists on a heavenly entrance tax. They feel they must do enough good in this life before God opens the gates of heaven, allowing them to enter. The good news is that he doesn’t work that way. The truth is that sinful human beings can’t justify themselves. God is completely holy and cannot have even a hint of sin in his presence. Fortunately, our heavenly Father loved us enough to send his only Son to pay our “sin tax.” When we accept Jesus as our Savior, his blood removes our sins, and makes us able to come into God’s presence. Through Jesus Christ, who paid for our sins, we are justified and have peace with God.
In Mexico, after paying the “exit tax,” we received proof that we paid and were free to leave the country and free to return. The evidence that we’re free to enter heaven is that Christ paid for our sins by his death on the cross. Do you know him as your proof to enter eternity?
As you pray, thank God for sending Jesus to make heaven free to enter for you.
About the Author
Steven Laman is a writer and public speaker who has lived with cerebral palsy since his birth in 1970. Steven is a prolific devotional writer for Words of Hope, and the author of three books: My Journey God’s Grace, Strength in Weakness and My Grace Is Sufficient. He also volunteers as a teacher’s aide. He lives with his parents in Iowa.
