The Front of the Line

“The ground is level at the foot of the cross.”

Standing in line is leveling. Egalitarian. I was recently standing in line at a store and noted the variety of people. Some were more accomplished, articulate, or attractive than others. But no one gets to the front based on those merits, only by the equal investment of standing in line. In childhood we learn to stand in line, and if someone cuts, it affronts our sense of fairness.

Jesus is leveling as well. Some may be more accomplished, more pious, or more obedient than others, but no one gets in based on those merits. We get in based on a relationship with him. Period. Our accomplishments don’t do it, nor does getting in good with the pastor. I rather love that. We don’t have to have the right family, or money, or even (contrary to common thought) good behavior to be right with him.  He offers a place of peace and restoration to each one of us directly, and each one of us can accept that offer directly. We don’t even have to be heterosexual to be in!

I don’t know what tradition was trained into you, but you don’t have to do a certain thing or be a certain way to be acceptable, I don’t care who is telling you otherwise. You don’t need a mediator, you don’t need to pay a penalty. You don’t need to change your orientation. You are welcome into relationship with God through Jesus regardless of any other factors! You just get to come. Isn’t that something?

Come to me ALL who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest… For God so loved the world that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life!… For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I wish to you the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, to guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Much love.