Are you a Keeper?

Every tournament angler faces a similar question in the quest to catch and keep a specified number of fish to carry to the scales.  It may differ from species to species and from lake to lake, but the question keeps coming up ... "Is the fish long enough to keep?"  Is it a "legal" catch to add to the creel for the purpose of scoring in a tournament?  Usually some sort of measuring device is used to see if the fish in fact "measures up."  If it does, it goes into the livewell to continue to add up to a limit or may in fact cull a smaller fish.  If it comes up "short," it becomes a "throw back" and is returned to the lake to be caught another day.

A similar question could be asked of a person concerning their standing before God.  In other words, does God consider you "a keeper"?  In His eyes and upon His measuring device, "Do you measure up?"  Would God deem you to be a "keeper" or a "throw back"?

The Bible plainly answers that question.  The answer is NO!  It says, "For all have sinned and fall SHORT of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).  Because of our sinfulness before God, none of us "measures up."  We all have come up SHORT!  God's measuring device consists of absolute perfection and holiness and before God none of us meet those standards.  We're all destined to be thrown back and remain separated from God.

The Good News is God has made a way for us to be declared "A KEEPER" in His eyes.  God sent Jesus Christ into this world.  Jesus lived a perfect and sinless life before God and became the sacrifice for our sin by dying on the cross.  By acknowledging and accepting His son as your personal Savior, He declares you righteous before Him and thus adds you to His creel for the purpose of enjoying fellowship with Him now and in Heaven after this life.  The Bible puts it this way, "If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved" (Romans 10:9-10).  By a simple act of prayer and faith in Jesus Christ, God declares you "A Keeper."

If this is your desire today, ADMIT that you're a sinner.  BELIEVE that God has sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross for your sins and then CONFESS that you want Him to save you for fellowship with Him both now and forever.

If I can assist you further in your walk with Christ, contact me and I'd be glad to help you in your new life with Christ.

Blessings and Limits,
Jim Phillips
Email: fishingpreacher@hotmail.com
Web site: fishingpreacher.com

 (reprinted by permission of Jim Phillips)