We Deserve It!

Do you think that we deserve to be happy? A great many people on the Internet seem to feel that way. But do we deserve it?

First, what does the word 'deserve' mean?

To be worthy of; merit: synonym: earn

Earn? Now wait a minute. According to the news, people deserve to have their student loans paid off. Did they earn something I'm not aware of?

The news also tells us that people who want to change their sex deserve to do so. How did they earn that? I think the word 'deserve' is being misused here. Or am I getting confused?

Hmm. I wonder what the Bible says that we deserve?

Deuteronomy 22:5 - "the wicked deserves to be beaten."

1 Samuel 26:16 - "As the Lord lives, you deserve to die."

Psalm 28:4 - "Render to them what they deserve!"

None of this is sounding good. The fact is that "we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23).

"The wages of sin is death." (Romans 6:23)

Wages! Now there's something we can earn. By doing actual work! Go back up to that definition of 'deserve.'

We can be deserving of what we earn. That's called wages. And the wages for our sin is death. We are all deserving of death when we stand in front of Jesus one day. We have earned death because of our sins.

What hope do we have then?

Friend, let me tell you about God's grace.

"Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." - Ephesians 2:4-9

If you haven't allowed Jesus into your life yet, what are waiting for? Death? Uhh...