The "A" List

This past weekend I attended a banquet for the Tipton County Veterans' Council. It was a lovely affair and the food was even good (Don't look at me so self-righteously. You know exactly what I am talking about.) I even enjoyed meeting some of Phil's colleagues on the Council.

Our pastor is also a member of the Council. Before the banquet, one of the officers of the Council got information from him to place him on the national registry of World War II veterans. Sunday, he mentioned how honored and humbled he was that anyone was interested in his military service.

I know exactly how he feels. I have been listed more than once (see, it was so important to me that I can't even tell you how many times) in the "Who's Who of American Colleges". I also was a member of a history honor society the first time I went to college but I can't remember the Greek letter that signified its name. I was also privileged to graduate magna cum laude from college when I finally went back to school at age 30. It really is both an honor and a very humbling thing that anyone would want to honor something you did at any age.

Even celebrities have a list they desire more than most things in their lives. It is called the "A" list and if they are on it they receive lots of awards and big movie roles and can make more money on one file than you or I can even dream of making in an entire lifetime.

Of all the lists around that I could possibly on, even today. My heart's desire is to be on only one list. It's an "A" list of sorts and no matter who you are, trust me, you want to be on it. Revelation 3:5 identifies it: "In the same way, the victor will be dressed in white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before My Father and before his angels." Now that's what I call a list. It is a list that leads to eternal life.

How do you get on this list? Well, it really is kind of simple.

First: You must believe that you have sinned (separated yourself from God). Romans 3:23 states, "for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." The words "come short" represent an archery term meaning "missed the target." So in this way, we are all alike because we all sin every day. We miss the target.

Second: We must believe that our sin comes with a price. Romans 6:23 tells us, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus." When you work as hard at sin as we do, we expect to be paid. God does not disappoint us. Trust me, when you work at sin you will definitely get pay from God because God never breaks His promises.

But He loves you, (yes, I said you), enough to leave you a way out. He gives you the free gift of eternal life. It's like if I gave you $1,000,000 (the going rate on most reality TV shows and you don't have to starve for 39 days) and told you I didn't want it back. Now THAT would be a free gift. No strings, no obligations, nothing. You would owe me nothing.

Third: You must give up control of your own life and allow Jesus to take over. Romans 10: 9-10 tells us how to give up control, "if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation." So when Christians tell you that you have to have Jesus in your heart they mean that instead of God being your co-pilot, you allow Him to be the pilot of your life. (Just a thought. Some of these people with that bumper sticker on their cars REALLY need to scoot over and let Him drive!)

That's it. That's the whole process. Realize you are a sinner; confess your sins; accept the gift; and give God the reins.

Some people have asked me, "Why should I believe how you believe?" My answer to them is that they don't. America is a free country and you can believe as you wish. However, I want to ask you two questions. The first: What is the worst thing that can happen if I am wrong? The worst thing that could happen is that you have lived a peaceful, productive, kind life. That's a good thing. Second question: What is the worst thing that could happen if I am right? Revelation 20: 15 provides the answer, "And anyone not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire." That's pretty harsh for a loving God you say? Well, I'm afraid you have forgotten that God is also holy and just, not just loving.

So my friend, do you want to be on God's "A" list? I know that I am on it (a story for another time) and I would love it if you would join me. After all, "the more the merrier," I always say.