Righteous

I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.   Luke 15:7

walking along the ocean shore, the sound of crashing waves,

cool breeze blowing in my face, I realize we are all

living on borrowed time, no matter how hard we work,

no matter how much effort we put forth, it is never quite good enough,

it is never quite hard enough, none of us has what it takes,

none of us can pay the cost, we are all faking it, we are all alienated,

we have all fallen short, we are all without defense, we all deserve

the punishment of liars and cheats, of murderers and rapists,

of swindlers and thieves;

we are all guilty;

inside we run from the truth, not concerned with right or wrong,

but rather about the opinion of others, how others see our efforts and toils,

how others judge our actions and decisions, we delude and deceive ourselves,

thinking we can measure success by money and wealth,

patting ourselves on the back, holding up self-made scorecards,

saying ‘look at me,’ I made the right choices, I made the right decisions,

I am successful, I deserve respect, I have earned the right to retire

and spend all day walking the beach;

I am somebody;

the truth is we are all nobody, without the grace of the

One who created us, without the sacrifice of the One  who suffered and died,

to let us know that we do matter, that we were worth the torture and pain;

that in heaven, there is more rejoicing over one sinner who repents,

than over ninety nine righteous persons who do not need to repent

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