This morning, as our pastor began to bring us his message during worship these words flashed on the screen:

We all sin.

It took my breath away.  Not because I didn’t know it was true.  Oh, trust me.  I did.  But my heart nearly leaped out of my chest because I was sure I knew where this was going.

Condemnation.  Try harder.  Do better.  Be more.  You’re not enough.  Do it all over.  I’ve heard that message of hell and brimstone a million times.

But no.  No, Pastor Pete reminded us that we were living in a grace place.  One where we no longer have to build a life stuck in sin but pretending as if we weren’t.  Where we no longer have to go to great lenghts to try to convince ourselves that being good and being happy is enough in our lives.

Because it’s not.  And you and I both know that.

We can keep trying to live our lives as though we can jam enough good things into place to cobble together some sort of life here.

Or.  We can focus on eternity.  One where there is repentance and redemption.  One where we can stop, right now, right this minute, right where we are in whatever it is that is nearly killing us, and we can do a complete 180.  We can circle right back around to Jesus.  We can embrace the call and plan he has for us.

Sure, we can stay stuck in the quicksand of sin and the trap of lies the world tells us.

But why?

“Rid yourself of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit.”  Ezekiel 18:31

There is grace, bleeding through right beside you.  Closer than a breath.  Closer than a song.  Closer than you can imagine.

Don’t remain stuck in sin and lies and unbelief.  Turn around.  Turn around and let grace lead you home.

This post is written in conjunction with the #Write31days Challenge and linked up with Kate Motaung’s Five Minute Friday crew here and Nester Smith’s friends here.