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Am I Too Far Gone to be Saved?

Suppose a man had thousands of dollars in his pocket and desired to give it away in charity. He would not find thankful recipients among the wealthy, would he? If he were to knock at the doors of their great homes and express his sincere desire to be charitable, the well-dressed attendants quite possibly would slam the door in his face, telling him to be gone with his audacity. But if that man were to go into the back alleys where crowds of ragged children play amid filth and squalor and where all the people are miserably poor, cold and hungry; there he would find plenty of room for his charity! Why, he could put both hands into his pockets and spend his money left and right with ease and satisfaction! He would have no fear of anyone refusing his kindness, or finding it offensive.

Two thousand years ago, the infinite and holy Creator, the God of justice and mercy, came down to this earth in the person of his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Why did he come? What exactly was his mission? In His own words,

"The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10

Four of the men who lived closest to Christ wrote separate accounts of what they saw and heard during the years they followed Him. Their eyewitness accounts are recorded for us in the Bible, in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Three of these men related an incident (almost word-for-word) where the religious leaders criticized Christ for spending his time with sinners. Jesus wisely answered his critics,

"It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call righteous men but sinners to repentance." Matthew 9:12, 13; Mark 2:17; Luke 5:31, 32

When Christ came to distribute mercy, He could not give it to those who did not want it. His statement declared an obvious truth: the worse a person's illness is, the more room there is for the physician's art. When a man sets up in a trade, he likes to find a location where his goods or services are most needed, and there he opens shop. With all respect, it can be said that Christ's "trade" is to save sinners. That is the only business and calling He undertook: to become a Savior of lost and ruined souls. He is still "in the business" today.

Are you overwhelmed by a sense of unworthiness? Then your outlook could not be more hopeful! You are, in fact, the very kind of person Christ still seeks. The Bible assures us in numerous places that God, being a God of mercy and a God of love, is "not wishing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). What does it mean to "come to repentance"? It means to make a 180-degree turn. One moment you are heading to hell, following the wide road to destruction and misery that you deserve because of your sins. The next moment you are turned around and on your way to heaven, completely forgiven and washed clean. How is it possible that a person's destiny can be so dramatically changed in a moment of time? It is possible through Christ's greatest work—his death on the cross. He has made it possible.

See, now, exactly how the situation stands: You have broken God's law—you are guilty. God must punish you; eternal justice demands it. But the Lord Jesus came into the world to provide a way by which sin may be forgiven, without God's justice being compromised. That way is substitution. Christ stood in your place, was punished with your punishment, and bore the wrath of God for you. He did the same for me and for anyone else who trusts him. The disciple John wrote,

"He [Jesus] came to his own [the Jews] and those who were his own did not receive him, but as many as received him to them he gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe on His name." John 1:11,12

Will you gratefully accept this free gift of forgiveness that Christ offers? Give up all thoughts of trying to reform first—it is not necessary. Indeed, it is impossible to reform ourselves; the only way to truly be changed is through trusting Christ for salvation from sin.

There once were two men, an enslaved black man and his master, who both became convicted of their sin at the same time, after hearing the gospel explained. Each went to his room with much to think about, almost overwhelmed by the immensity of the truth. That night the black man found joy and peace through believing, but his master was burdened by a heavy sense of condemnation that persisted for months.

He said to his servant one day, "Sam you go about your work rejoicing in Christ, and I am still doubting and despairing. How can you explain it?"

The black man thought for a moment and then replied slowly, "Why, you see, massa, Jesus say to Sambo, 'Here is a robe for you!' I look at myself, and see Sam all rags from head to foot, and I take the robe, and puts it on directly, so glad to have it. Jesus say the same thing to massa, but massa say, 'My coat is quite respectable. I think I can make it last a little longer. Massa patch up the hole in the elbow, and mend the buttonholes a little, and he go on with it. Massa's coat too good. If his coat were all rags, like Sam's he would not wait, but he would this very day take the glorious robe of righteousness."

That is the whole truth of the matter. Many people do not consider themselves spiritually bankrupt and in need of God's forgiveness, but others may see themselves as beyond hope. Neither of these ideas is true. Do you wonder if you are too far gone to be saved? Oh no, my friend! Your sin, no matter how great, has merely qualified you for salvation!

"Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved." Acts 16:31