The Level Playing Field

snowdrops

In times of battle, assuming that all other things are equal, the side with the high ground has a huge advantage. Throughout history, we see this scenario played out over and over again. Yes, the high ground is good for some and not very good for others!

The High Ground And Level Playing Field

An army with high ground usually wins! You can bet on it! And certainly, playing football, soccer, lacrosse, or field hockey on a field with high ground would be unfair!  

The phrase the high ground describes a person who has a big advantage over their opponents. Conversely,  the level playing field gives everyone an equal and fair chance.

Today let’s look at the level playing field that is a relationship with Jesus Christ. Did you know that Christianity, true Christianity, is the only religion that has a level playing field? No high ground!  No favorites! No special things one needs to do to attain heaven? No one has an unfair advantage!

The Bad News

There’s good news and bad news as we look at the level playing field of true belief in Jesus.

I like to get the bad news dealt with first. So let’s tackle it now.

Scripture says…

ALL HAVE FALLEN SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD. Roman 3:23

This is a pretty straightforward statement! ALL means ALL.

To fall short is like a marksman missing the bullseye on a target. In fact, the marksman actually missed the target altogether. The target we all fall short of is God’s perfect glory. The target is being holy like He is holy. Not even the best person that has ever lived or will ever live has come close. None but One! Jesus!

So no matter who you are, what you have done, who your family is, or anything else- you have missed the mark! All mankind is on the same troubled playing field! We all have fallen short of what God desires. We have all missed the mark totally!

Because of that, we are ALL under God’s wrath (Romans 1:18). His anger is just and righteous, not one that has no cause. We have ALL chosen to turn our backs on our perfect God, go our own way, and rebel against Him. And that is sin! And God and sin do not mix!

God’s wrath is a serious and terrifying thing! It is nothing anyone would want to be under. But we all start out that way!

Because of our disobedience or “falling short,” we are all doomed to an eternity without God and, therefore, without goodness, light, mercy, grace, benevolence, love, might, long-suffering, joy, peace, and more. The absence of God is hell.

God is the giver of all that is good. And without Him, our lot is… well, unthinkable.

Now that we know that ALL have fallen short of God’s glory, are under His wrath, and are doomed, the bad news is that life is grim and hopeless without God.

The Good News

BUT GOD SHOWS HIS LOVE FOR US IN THAT WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US. Romans 5:8

But God! These are such precious and hopeful words.

It’s time for the amazing, wonderful, redemptive good news! When God steps into our broken lives it’s always the best news.

THEREFORE HAVING BEEN JUSTIFIED (judged as not guilty of sin) by FAITH (believing in Jesus as Lord and Savior) WE HAVE PEACE (Shalom- total wholeness, nothing missing, perfect well-being) WITH GOD THROUGH JESUS CHRIST (JESUS has made peace between God and men). Romans 5:1

First of all, EVERYONE has the same chance to believe in Jesus Christ, who paid the price for our sins by spilling his perfect holy blood and dying on the cross. He took our place so we would not experience eternal death… eternal life without God!  He died in our place.

BEING JUSTIFIED AS A GIFT BY HIS (GOD) GRACE THROUGH THE REDEMPTION WHICH IS IN JESUS CHRIST WHO GOD DISPLAYED PUBLICLY AS A PROPITIATION IN HIS (JESUS) BLOOD THROUGH FAITH.  Romans 3: 23-24A

Big words and deep doctrinal thoughts! But simplified …

God has given us the free gift of salvation. Salvation is something we don’t deserve because we have rebelled against Him. God has declared all of us sinners. Every last human.


Anyone who believes in Jesus Christ and His saving act on the cross has been bought back from the slave market of sin and an eternity without God (REDEMPTION), and we are declared not guilty by God (JUSTIFIED ) of rebelling against him.

Here’s the amazing thing. Yes, we are guilty, but Jesus has paid our debt with His blood, and God has declared our sin debt paid in full and literally put righteousness (right standing with God) on our account (JUSTIFIED)!

God allowed Jesus to die a public and brutal death on the cross for all the world to see. In doing this, God was satisfied with Jesus’ blood payment (Propitiation) for ALL who believe.

Now, this is the best news EVER!!!!

Even Better News

Anyone can have a restored and intimate relationship with God. This relationship does not rely on how good we are, who we are, our lifestyle, or anything else.

By believing in Jesus Christ, everyone can have an everlasting and restored relationship of perfect peace and wholeness! Once we see our rebellion and sin against God, we can see our need to get our relationship right with Him. And when we see Jesus and how God gave us the perfect sacrifice of His Son, we can bow our knee in submission and love to Him and accept God’s greatest gift to all mankind!

The playing field is level. Everyone, past, present, and future, has the same opportunity to be right with God through Jesus.

How about you? Will you accept God’s precious gift and win the greatest battle of all time? It is the battle for your very soul! God is calling you through Jesus to be right with Him and have a future with Him in eternity.

If you want to know what belief in Jesus really is, you might also be interested in WHAT DOES TRUE FAITH REALLY MEAN.

A verse to ponder…

BUT GOD SHOWS HIS LOVE FOR US IN THAT WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US. Romans 5:8

Happy Sunday, Friends.

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25 Comments

  1. Cheryl Tracy says:

    Thank you for your Sunday morning mini-sermons. I enjoy them so much!
    Stonegable is beautiful and I appreciate you sharing it with us.

  2. Joan Moore says:

    Beautiful and True words!!! Thank you so much for sharing so boldly God’s word on your blog. Blessings to you and your family. ❤️

  3. Our Pastor is preaching through Romans. This is exactly where we were this morning. Thank you so much for sharing The Word and His love!

  4. In a world where truth is so lacking , thank you for bringing The Truth ! Blessings .

  5. Thank you for that beautiful & simple explanation how we can become right with God. Peace & joy are such a gift from Him. There is no match like peace with God.

  6. Thank you for this timely reminder and the weekly blessings that you provide!

    Amid the midst of the hurt it is so easy to focus on the shortcomings of others while forgetting our own. As the word states, “All, none but one” fall short! Oh what an awesome God we serve!

    Many thanks and continued blessings to you and yours!

  7. What a great lesson!! And all so true. Thank you so much for giving the bread of life to us each Sunday!! It is appreciated very much. Blessings to you.

  8. Thank you for your talent of bringing a Sunday message of God’s promises to His people. You also bring God’s beauty of nature into your decorating ideas that lift our spirits and remind us of God’s beautiful world given to us to enjoy.

  9. Thank you for these Sunday morning posts and the reminder of a Savior who died for us.

  10. So thankful for forgiveness!

  11. Debbie Minett says:

    I always look forward to your Sunday messages! You are doing God’s work!

  12. I always look forward to your Sunday morning posts. Thank you for your faithfulness in presenting a sound message.

  13. thank you, Yvonne. Your messages are such an encouragement, and blessing! 😊 God bless you as you continue with your decorating advice, and even more importantly sharing your faith….may both reap great fruit.

  14. Nancy Tomasini says:

    I am so blessed to have found your blog!

  15. Cindy Pothier says:

    Thank you for sharing and reminding us about the Good News of salvation.
    Perfect for today, a Sunday, a reading of goodness.

  16. val swanson says:

    Thank you for the lesson. It really is the best news!