For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.”  Behold, now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation. – 2 Corinthians 6:2

There is at least one good thing that has come out of 2020.  Starting tomorrow, we get to watch, in the Fall, a Master’s golf tournament.  I am so looking forward to being glued to the television for the next four days.  Now, what does this have to do with any kind of devotional?  

I’m glad you asked.

There is a guy NOT in the tournament named Daniel Berger.  When the original tournament was to be played back in April, he was ranked 109 in the world and didn’t meet a single qualification that would allow him an invite to play.  After the qualification window, he went on a tear.  In fact, he became the number 13 best golfer on the planet.  He thought, “Surely Augusta National will give me an invite and let me play anyway.”  

He thought wrong.

As Americans, especially as Americans, we have somehow become accustomed to thinking that things should always go our way regardless of whether or not we meet the criteria or qualifications.  If I speed, I expect the officer to just give me a warning.  If I can’t make the payments on my car, I think they should just let me keep it anyway.  If I fail the test, the teacher should let me take it again.  If I turn the assignment in late, the teacher should accept it anyway and still give me full credit.

The unfortunate thing about all of this is that we wind up applying it to God.  I’ve never been to a funeral where it is assumed that the person is now eternally separated from God with no chance of ever enjoying His presence.  We want to believe that somehow, some way, everyone we love and care about meets the qualification.  There is only one qualification:

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.  — Acts 16:31

Please don’t think that you should just be allowed into God’s presence because you think you’ve played this game of life well enough to earn it.  You know right now if you are building your life on the rock of Christ Jesus.  You know right now if you love Him or not.  You know.  If, after an honest assessment of your heart, you are not in right standing with Him, your prayer goes something like this:

Lord, help me put my trust in You and You alone.  I don’t want to wait until it is too late.  The truth is, I give my attention and affection to so many things in this world that are so temporary.  Will you give me a love for You?  Will You fill me with Your Holy Spirit that I might follow You all the days of my life?  Help me build my life on the rock that is Christ Jesus.  Show Yourself real to me, God.  Help me to want to follow You so that the joy of my life is knowing that I will dwell in Your house, the house of The Lord, forever.  Amen.