IS YOUR Ticket cOUNTERFEIT?

January 21, 2009

IS YOUR Ticket cOUNTERFEIT?

Psalm 15

David Banks

Central Truth

This psalm demonstrates that to be worthy enough to be God's guest in His sanctuary requires living a blameless life.

Lord, who may be a guest in your home? Who may live on your holy hill? (Psalm 15:1)

Who Shall Dwell on Your Holy Hill?

A Psalm of David.

1 O LORD, who shall sojourn in your tent?
Who shall dwell on your holy hill?

2 He who walks blamelessly and does what is right
    and speaks truth in his heart;
3 who does not slander with his tongue
    and does no evil to his neighbor,
    nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
4 in whose eyes a vile person is despised,
    but who honors those who fear the LORD;
who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
5 who does not put out his money at interest
    and does not take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things shall never be moved.

Have you ever been excited about going to a sporting event or concert? In college I remember anticipating the Texas vs. Oklahoma Red River rivalry in Dallas. I purchased my ticket through a friend, made travel plans, and found a free place to stay in Dallas. I had heard of people being turned away in previous years because their tickets were counterfeit. I thought "what will happen if my ticket is fake?" I would have spent all of that time and effort for nothing. Thank the Lord, my ticket was valid.

The first verse of this passage is about dwelling with our God in His sanctuary, and the rest of the chapter talks about the characteristics of those who would get in. I personally have failed at most of these. I try my best, but I usually come up short.

Matthew 5:48 says, "So then, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Perfect is just what it means. No mistakes, no sin. James 2:10 explains, "For the one who obeys the whole law but fails in one point is guilty of all of it." If I trusted that my best was good enough for Him, then I would be turned away. Thankfully, through God's grace, He made an entry gate for the less than perfect.

The ticket for that gate is the gift of Jesus, His Son. 1 Peter 2:24 states, "He himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we may cease from sinning and live for righteousness. By His wounds you were healed." Wow, Jesus paid for my mistakes and yours. Romans 10:9 states that if we "confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Saved from what? A life eternally separated from God. I personally know that my ticket is the real deal. What about you?

1. What are you trusting in to allow yourself to dwell with God?

2. Have you confessed to God that you are not worthy on your own merits and that you need the saving grace that only Jesus gives?

3. The devil is the father of lies and loves to fool us into false security. What authenticates your ticket so you know that it is not counterfeit?

4. When was the last time you shared the gift of God's grace with someone?