“I grasp and cling to whatever you tell me; Yahweh, don’t let me down.” Psalm 119:31, Msg

It’s not what you do or who you are…it’s what God does in us. The Psalmist knows that well. It’s always been that way. God’s grace is the door to heaven. The following “story” shows us, however, how the world thinks…

A man dies and goes to heaven. St. Peter meets him at the Pearly Gates and says, “Here’s how it works. You need 100 points to make it into heaven. You tell me all the good things you’ve done and I give you a certain number of points for each item, depending on how good it was. When you reach 100 points, you get in.” 

“Okay,” the man says, “I was married to the same woman for 50 years and never cheated on her and loved her deep in my heart.” 

“That’s wonderful,” says St.Peter, “that’s worth two points.” 

“Two points!?” he says. “Well, I attended church all my life and supported its ministry with my tithe and service.” 

“Terrific!” says St.Peter. “That”s certainly worth a point.” 

“One point!?!! Well, I started a soup kitchen in my city and worked in a shelter for homeless veterans.” 

“Fantastic, that”s good for two more points,” he says. 

“Two points!?!! Exasperated, the man cries, “At this rate the only way I’ll get into heaven is by the grace of God.” 

“Bingo! 100 points! Come on in!”

Ah, see…it is by the grace of God, through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, that we are saved from our sin, shortcomings, mistakes all wrapped up in grace. So cling to Yahweh, as the Psalmist desires in Psalm 119:31, Msg:

“I grasp and cling to whatever you tell me; Yahweh, don’t let me down!”

God will not let us down, He lifts us up to where He is, in His thinking, and then gives us the power and strength to make the changes necessary to be all He intended for us to be. 

HOW DO WE CLING TO YAHWEH?

By letting go of our ourselves, our plans, our control and giving ourselves back to our Creator as an offering. I am reminded of Romans 12, Msg, again, “…Take your everyday, ordinary life–your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life–and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best think you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it.”

“Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed mature in you.” Romans 12, Msg

Yes, LORD, yes, LORD, Yes, Yes, LORD! Amen! 

I will cling to the old rugged cross…as the hymn says…I will cling to Christ, the Savior of my soul!

So, “I grasp and cling to whatever you tell me; Yahweh…”

This is my prayer for all of us, In Jesus Name, Amen.