"Cause of Stagger"

 "But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:" (John 12:37 KJV)

  "Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. And because of Abraham's faith, God counted him as righteous." (Romans 4:20-22 NLT)

 I have a little bit of an issue with those that might think that believing in God's promises doesn't count; as if the faith that we might place in God, does not count if we are not perfect and able to be exactly like Jesus, in every situation. Last I checked, there is none perfect, except Jesus; and it is because of His being perfect, that we get to hitch a ride on His righteousness, by believing in Him! 

 Again, the only One that will be judging you and me will be Christ! He is the One that we will stand before, and His judgment is the final word in whether or not we were faithful in what He gave us to do! Did you believe that He loved you? There is the mission that is placed in our hearts: To show the world how much He loves us, giving up His life for us, that we could be made righteous by His blood. 

 Knowing that, it becomes hard to live in sin; practicing sin is something that you must teach yourself to do, in order to even begin to be okay with it. And even then, after you have been dragged around by the devil long enough, you will finally come to your senses, begging for forgiveness! (This much I know!) 

 As I have probably mentioned before, I have a few friends that have walked away from following Jesus; each of them has done so for the same reason: Not believing that God is willing to forgive them! Having previously been on fire for God, proclaiming His wonderful works, and being witnesses to the great salvation they have received; they fell from grace and now believe that they don't deserve mercy! 

 It is hard to talk them out of what they feel, because they have made up their minds and hardened their hearts. Each of them seems to have someone in their life that was their spiritual giant, who must have scolded them for having failed; maybe even accused them of the unpardonable sin, as if falling from grace is unpardonable! 

 Well, is it? I think that Judas Iscariot is a picture of someone who did not believe that he deserved to be forgiven. He felt that his sin was so bad, that there was no way Jesus would ever forgive him! He was part of the plan and didn't even realize what Jesus was being crucified for: For him, and you, and me, and every other sinner that has ever lived! 

 I want you to stop staggering back and forth, being uncertain of where you might stand with God! If you are standing for Jesus, then He will be standing for you...

""Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David. See how I used him to display my power among the nations. You also will command nations you do not know, and peoples unknown to you will come running to obey, because I, the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious."" (Isaiah 55:3-5 NLT)