Before I began, I want to express my belief on religion and God, and that there is a difference between the two. To be perfectly honest, I prefer God. Religion has entirely too much red tape and God is so much more simple than people make Him out to be.
I've made the debate more than once that God's grace simply is not fair by our world's standards. Because when we take the Bible and use it as a rule book...well it's just too much for anyone to abide by. But you should be trying to, right? Wrong.
I always have and always will believe that the only way for me to get to heaven is through simply inviting God into my life and ultimately my heart. To lay down my goals, my plans, and my desires, so that He may write His story through my life. No rules, no extras...just simply proclaiming that He is my only hope. Seems easy, right? Wrong.
By now, I'm sure you've realized my play on words...I'm not good enough compared to God, never have been, never will be. Very clever... BUT I'm also not good enough compared to the world/our culture's standards, either. Never have been, and never want to be. Why?
Remember when I said that I simply only needed to proclaim that God is my only hope to get into heaven and that I shouldn't be trying to do what the bible said..? How contradictory is that statement? Hahaha
You see when I proclaim to be a follower of Christ, I also open my heart to this incredibly intimate relationship with Him. I'm literally allowing Him to guide me, day in and day out, through every movement. Like a sheep, I'm simply following His ways and because of this I shouldn't have to try to do anything to glorify His name... instead I want to do anything and everything to show just how sweet His love is.
It's so hard to stop using the word should...to let go of all the notions this world has given us... what it means to be "good", how "karma/golden rule" works, or what it means to be a "Christian". On top of that it's even harder to admit that while I love God will all that I am, I still fall short...every single day. I'll never amount to all that He is but the good news is, that's okay!! When God sent His son to die for us, the slate was wiped clean. My only duty now is to actively pursue my relationship with Him and everything else will align the way it was intended to be.
I think the hardest part for people to grasp is the notion that even the really "bad" people could still make it into heaven. If that's the case then why even try to be "good"? Just like our natural relationships, when we love someone, we find the strength to do things for them even when we don't feel like it. So in a supernatural relationship, with God, imagine the strength you could muster to do things you weren't too fond of?!
As simple as it sounds, we all know it isn't. Yet in the end, it's more than worth it. When you really think about it though, having a relationship with the man who sent His son to die for me, is the absolute least I could do.