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“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  Ephesians 2:8-9

It’s always a wonderful thing to discover what you truly want to be “when you grow up”—whether you’re six or 60. Tapping into your God-given gifts, your personality traits, and the God-ordained desires of your heart to find a fulfilling vocation is soul-satisfying. Sometimes it’s hardwired in early (like my son, the pilot, who’s wanted to fly airplanes since he was five years old). Other times, it takes a lifetime of meandering, self-discovery, and ultimate surrender to find that sweet spot the Lord has for you. (This is like my husband, who has blessedly found his purposeful professional—and service-driven—groove at 55.)

Not all career paths require a college education. But if one’s track is, say, engineering, science, teaching, or medicine, higher ed is a must. And for those of us walking through that process now ourselves or with our children, there are those frustrating moments in trying to register for a degree-related course you want when you see that footnoted list of “required prerequisites.” It’s a bit deflating to realize you need to take, for example, two semesters of accounting toward your degree in chemistry. But on the academic road to your ultimate destination, those prerequisites are unavoidable.

Friends, this is thankfully not the case when it comes to our ultimate eternal destination. When we decide—whether at age six or 60—that Heaven is our desired objective, it’s a one-step transaction. There are no hoops to jump through, no “101, 201, 301” progression, and certainly no grades to be earned. We cannot work our way into relationship with God. In this world, we are dead in our sin, separated from our Creator, walking in brokenness. But Jesus (fully God and fully man) lived a perfect life and gave Himself, through death on a cross, to pay the penalty we owe, trading our sin for His righteousness. It is simply by having faith in Jesus—believing you’re lost without Him and rescued by Him—that you are saved (restored to your intended relationship with God).

What about you? Are you trying to fulfill some list of perceived prerequisites to earn your place in Heaven? Sister, you can rip up that list you’ve been carrying around. Look up and surrender to Jesus Christ. That’s it. Faith alone through grace alone (Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 5:24, Romans 11:6). There’s nothing for you to do, or not do. No boxes to check. No price to pay. Jesus paid it all…so, for you and for me, there are no prerequisites required.

“Lord, thank You for making the way for me. Your grace is sufficient! Give me a joyful obsession to share this amazing news with others.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life