It’s a human invention to assign degrees of “badness” to crimes. First degree murder is worse than second degree murder. Murder is worse than manslaughter. A felony is worse than a misdemeanor. A moving violation is worse than a parking ticket. The punishment varies according to the designated severity of the crime.

God doesn’t agree. To Him, every crime is equally bad, and they are each punishable by death. Murder, deceit, selfishness, arson, boasting, theft, vanity… He tolerates nothing other than perfect holiness.

That’s why Jesus’s gift of salvation is so beautiful. He lived the perfect holy life that I never could and then gave it to me, as if I lived it, as if I were the perfectly holy one, so that I could spend eternity enjoying God’s presence and favor.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬-‭24,‬ ‭CSB)‬‬

Every day I commit a new crime, despite my efforts to be holy. I say something self-serving, I fail to love someone as much as I love myself, I prioritize something more than God, I lie or cheat or steal. And every other person on earth is right there with me, on God’s death row.

Unless I choose to accept Jesus’s gift. If I do that, I am more than pardoned. I am justified. I am magically made righteous, as if I never did those bad things. Each day I keep trying to be holy, and I keep failing miserably, but God’s justification keeps working, keeps washing me clean, because of His great mercy and love.

Dear God,

I know I don’t deserve to be allowed in your pure and holy kingdom. And yet I am! I am so grateful for your mercy and love. Forgive me for thinking my sins don’t count or aren’t as bad as someone else’s. I know your standard is too high for me, or anyone, to reach without Jesus hoisting me up.