In 1919, eight members of the Chicago White Sox baseball team were banned for life from the major leagues because they allegedly took bribes to throw the final game of the World Series. The commissioner in charge wanted to do everything in his power to prevent such an incident from ever staining the reputation of the league again. Banning the players sent a strong message that such behavior would not be tolerated.
Many people feel the commissioner was right to place a ban on these players. After all, he was charged with protecting the integrity of the organization. Have you ever considered that God is the “Great Commissioner” of the universe who will deal out justice to every member of the human race?
At some future moment, each one of us will have to stand before Him and give an account of our lives. Romans 14:1212So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:12) reads, “Every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” If our actions, thoughts and words agreed with His righteousness, He would welcome us into heaven. The problem is we have fallen short: “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)). We have all committed acts that are full of malice, disorder and weakness — acts which are despicable in His sight. The stain of those sins on our record will effectively keep us out of heaven. Because of our sins, we have incurred the debt of eternal punishment.
The commissioner of the sports league banned certain players for life for their serious misconduct. However, God will ban all those who remain in their sins from His presence for all eternity! Therefore, the truth that you have sinned is the most serious problem you will face in this life.
What We All Need
It is because of the problem of sin that we all need the Saviour. It is only through faith in Christ that a lost sinner can be saved. To wash away the stain of sin from the men and women He created, He let Himself be nailed to Calvary’s cross where His blood was shed. Because He is the Son of God, His blood can wash away the stain of sin from every soul that trusts in Him so that he or she is whiter than snow. “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:1818Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18)).
When Christ died on the cross, He paid sin’s penalty for all those who would afterwards believe. Isaiah 53:55But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5) reads: “He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” While one sin is able to sink a sinner to hell if he or she rejects the Saviour, a million sins will not keep a sinner out of heaven if he or she repents and believes on the Lord Jesus Christ.
The time to turn to God is right now in this life! When this short life is over, it will be forever too late to set things right. “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3). Even if you have lived all your life at a distance from Him, you can still do an about-face on the road of life and come to the Saviour to receive the gift of eternal life. “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life” (Romans 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)).
The God of grace invites lost sinners to come to Him and be saved. Banned from heaven doesn’t have to be anyone’s portion. In a certain sense, people ban themselves from heaven by refusing God’s grace and offer of salvation. Don’t be someone who does such irreparable, irreversible and everlasting damage to themselves. Instead, come to the Lord Jesus for salvation.