I came across an article on Reddit with a headline that said:
“I had nothing to do with this 0ne-sided cosmic contract, so any god that punishes me for not living up to their standard is evil.”
What a bold statement! That definitely grabbed my attention and I wanted to read what else this person had to say.
He goes on to state that his birth was suddenly thrust upon him without his permission. He was a totally random sperm that happened to crack the egg so the only reason he was born was due to the passion that transpired between his parents.
He said he was brought up in a “very religious household” and one thing he has not been able to get over is – that he would be punished for not living up to the standard of “god.”
It is true that none of us can live up to God’s standard. No one will receive a welcome into Heaven on their own merit as God’s standard requires sinlessness and holiness. All of us fall short of that standard so we would all be doomed. However, God is a God of love and there is good news, so keep reading, it’s coming.
With heart searching words the writer says:
“Now why is the weight of the universe suddenly thrust on me!? What did I do!? You’re telling me that just because my parents happened to get horny one night, I have to navigate this absolutely confusing mess of a world, and if I grew up in the wrong culture or didn’t find the right god then this is all MY FAULT? Had I any say in this matter, I would have noped (sic) out and swam the other direction.”
This is a person looking for answers but feels he can get no straightforward answer as there are so many conflicting sides. He says it makes his head spin.
There is only one reliable, truthful source to get the answers to this man’s deep and troubling questions and that is in the Bible, the very Word of God.
Though he rejects this source-at least for now- there are answers in God’s Word and I will address his questions with the remaining post.
From the following verses, we learn that no baby was ever just a random sperm that just happened to be the lucky one to crack the egg in his mother’s womb first.
What does the Bible have to say about children? Here are several verses of many which help us understand how God sees the gift of children.
Jeremiah 1:5 I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.
Psalm 139: 13-16 For you formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very well. My frame wasn’t hidden from you, when I was made in secret, woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my body. In your book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there were none of them.
Psalm 127:3 
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.
God desires to have a relationship with us and formed us with a purpose.
The following verses are just a few that show that we are God’s handiwork, He has good plans for us. However, God gave us free will and He allows us to choose our path as He wants us to worship Him and follow His ways by choice.
Isaiah 64:8 Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
Ephesians 2:10 or we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Romans 8:28 and we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
The author of the post stated:
“I have to navigate this absolutely confusing mess of a world…”
Thankfully, we don’t have to do this alone as God seeks to have a personal relationship with each of us, He wants to direct our life and will if we let Him!
The verses below are just a few of many that give us confidence that God is with us, He cares for us and watches over us.
Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.
Psalm 143:10 Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
John 16:13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.
Isaiah 58:11 “And the Lord will continually guide you,
And satisfy your desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.
Near the end of his post, this man asks this question:
“Now that we’re here, give it to me straight, what do I need to do?”
There was man whose name was Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was talking with Jesus. He recognized that Jesus was sent from God and told Jesus that His miraculous signs were evidence that God was with Him. Jesus, knowing his heart, responded to Nicodemus saying “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
This statement puzzled Nicodemus, probably he felt it very strange as he was a religious Jewish leader but he was not familiar with this kind of talk. So he exclaimed, ( I wonder with what tone in his voice) “What do you mean? How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”
Jesus replied “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.”
Read the rest of the conversation in the book of John, chapter 3.
It is clear from Jesus words that we can not be saved by our own efforts. Ephesians 2:8,9 clearly explains that salvation is a gift from God and is not attained by our own efforts.
God standard is -sinlessness- holiness that we can not possibly achieve on our own.
That brings me to the GOOD NEWS that I mentioned was coming.
Jesus came to earth with the purpose of dying on the cross to pay, make restitution, for our sins. His pardon is for all who will come to Him in humility recognizing their sinful condition, acknowledging God’s offer of salvation through Jesus.
Isaiah 55:6,7 Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
2 Corinthians 7:9,10 “As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.”
We must repent (means-turn away from our sin) and receive the gift of salvation. When we ask Jesus Christ to forgive our sin, we must be sincere, which will produce a desire to make Him Lord of our life.
The salvation gift is free to us but was very costly, bought by the blood of Jesus. It is by His shed blood that we can have new life and are born of the Spirit.
Becoming a born again Christian does not make us sinless but it does make us sin less and less as we grow in our faith. Christians are not to practice sinful behavior.
When someone is born of the Spirit, Jesus calls it ‘born again’, he/she becomes a new person in Christ and surrenders each area of their life to God out of love and desire to follow Christ.
Just a a fruit tree bears fruit based on its kind, so does a follower of Christ. The bible describes the fruit of the Christian in this way. Galatians 5:22,23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
In this new relationship with God, our Creator, we have many promises of His constant care over us and we are reminded that we are not to worry about anything, instead pray about everything. Philippians 4:6,7,8,9
I pray that if you are reading this post and you have questions about your standing before our Holy God, that you will seek Him with your whole heart and He will surely show Himself to you.
Have a listen to these lyrics
Jesus Messiah
He became sin who knew no sin…That we might become His Righteousness. He humbled himself and carried the cross…