“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

Have you ever heard anyone say, “It’s okay not to be okay”?

That’s actually a truer statement than most realize. That’s right. This is a great place to start. We don’t have to pretend that we’re something or someone we are not. What you see is what you get. This is the right place to start.

• If we’re messed up, it’s okay to admit that.
• If our lives are messed up, it’s okay to admit that.
• If you’re not doing too well, it’s okay to admit that.

That’s the right place to start. You start with where you’re at. You cannot build a desirable future based on lies. You can only build your desirable future based on facts.

BUT…it’s not okay to stay there.

Do you think Jesus died on the cross, and to pay the debt of sin in hell just so you and I can be not okay? Come on!

Jesus died on the cross so that we might truly start living. And, while it is perfectly fine to start at a place where you admit that things are not okay, because of all that Jesus has done for us, it is not okay to stay there!

So, get your life started. Really start living your life, the way God meant your life to live. Jesus paid a high price so we can have that opportunity.

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

You can’t get more exclusive than that.

The way. The truth. The life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

That’s where so many people have issues with Jesus. It’s this definite article thing. It’s the “No other way to the Father except through me” thing.

But, here’s the thing: what if that really is the only way? What if no other pathways will ever free sinners from the bondage of sin?

Remember, the invitation to receive Jesus is open to all sinners. The invitation is the most inclusive there is. You can’t get more inclusive than that.

AND God makes it clear that the only pathway to eternal life is through Jesus. God created the world. Only God gets to make the rules.

The reason why I am still alive today is because more than twenty years ago they sawed my rib cage in half and performed open heart surgery. That was pretty invasive. That really hurt. But that was the only way I could live. I had no other choice.

Jesus makes it clear. When it comes to freedom from sin, there is no other way than receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior.

That’s good news. God welcomes all. Jews, Hindus, Arabs, Muslims, Buddhists. All sinners. And the only way to free ourselves from sin and its grip is Jesus.

“For God so loved the world…” (John 3: 16).

“For God so loved the world…” begins the most well-known verse in all of the Bible. And, for good reason. This verse describes God’s desire for his created world better than any other passage. When it comes to the love of God, there is no other faith or religion that comes even close to what our God offers.

There are no stipulations, no requirements, no barriers, no prerequisites. God loves the world. You can’t get more inclusive than that.

That’s what makes Christianity so different than any other religion or faith system. All others require things before a person is received into faith. They must believe the right things and behave the right way in order to belong.

Not so with Christ. Jesus accepts all sinners. Brown sinners. White sinners. Yellow sinners. Red sinners. ALL sinners. Even repeat sinners.

You can’t get more inclusive than that.

As you start this week, know you start with God’s love. You start with God’s invitation to receive eternal life and to start living that kingdom living immediately. You don’t have to wait until you die before you start living kingdom life. In the prayer Jesus taught his disciples to pray, we say, “May your kingdom come here on earth as it is in heaven…” That’s exactly what that means. We start living kingdom life the moment Jesus becomes our Savior and Lord.

Happy Monday!