Neal Pollard
Can God accept me as I am? I know me better than I know anyone else—my thoughts, feelings, motives, intentions, desires, temptations, and attitudes. I know I have sin in my life, and I have for many years. I know I struggle today and I will continue to struggle until He takes me home or He comes again. Can He accept me as I am?
No! Not without a heart of resolve or an attempt to please and serve Him. Not without obedience to the best of my ability. Not without submitting to His Word and His plan. Not if I am defiant and self-ruled. Not if I continue to serve sin in order to get more grace. Not if I am trying to write the rules or make it on the basis of my righteousness. Not if I feel I can somehow earn His acceptance or do enough good or avoid enough bad to force His hand and make Him accept me. Can He accept me as I am?
Yes! He made the plan. He set the promises and defined the conditions. His Son offered the sacrifice. He has the power and ability to cleanse my sins as I walk in the light. After I have lived the way He wants me to, to the best of my ability, He provides the grace that bridges the gap between my best and perfection. He refers me to Zaccheus, the woman at the well, the Prodigal Son, the woman who was a sinner, Peter, Saul of Tarsus, prostitutes, and sinners, the tax collector praying in the temple, the rabble, and the rest, and He says this is what is possible for you!
Can I accept that He can accept me? Perhaps that is the question that needs addressing first. His grace and my obedient faith is the roadway to divine acceptance. Heaven depends on my accepting that!
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