Conversation with Death and a Witch

   On the social network Facebook, there is a game called Yoville. You make an avatar of yourself (a character that looks like you), you go to work and earn coins, buy a house, furniture, clothes to wear etc. During the month of October you can buy Halloween costumes and decor.
   One morning my avatar "Shannon" was standing out in front of the Yoville apartment complex along with many others, thought bubbles bursting with conversations above our heads.  "Death" appears, dressed in a long black cape and hood carrying a sickle. Next to him is Miss Witch, wearing a black tattered dress and hat. Out of the blue a conversation begins;
     Death- "Would you date someone, even if they weren't religious?"
     Witch- "Yes I would."
     Shannon- "no"
     Death- "Even if they were a good person?"
     Witch- "It's not that important."
     Death- "Shannon, No? why not?"
     Witch- "We are all equal."
      Shannon- "Because I believe in the God of the bible, and he says it is important. Yes we are all equal"
Just as quick as it began, it was over, death disappeared.

Even if they were a good person?
      By who's standards?   mine? yours? witches? or Gods?
Romans 3:10-12
 As it is written, "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one."





Yes, we are all equal. We are all sinners. Born in sin, dead in sin.
That is what is so amazing about grace, both common and saving grace.
Without grace, sin is unrestrained. We will do what we want, when we want and how we want and good will be measured by a sinner's standards.
We are by nature......self serving and not sacrificial.
It is by common grace that a sinner can do any good, your life, love, acts of kindness- they are all gifts of God, even to those who do not believe in him.
It is his saving grace that makes his chosen people righteous. He takes the self serving heart and replaces it with the love of Christ and the fear of a holy God.

Ezekiel 36:26-27

  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

God's saving grace comes, not because we deserve it, not because we are better. We are all equal! Sinners bound to sin and destined to an eternity separated from God , paying the penalty for that sin.
It is by the grace and will of God that some sinners are saved, bound by love, destined for glory.
 So does religion matter?
  yes
What religion?
The worship of the one true God
Who defines God?
God himself
Where?
in his word, the bible
Why should I believe the bible?
It is historical, it is ageless, it is indestructible, it is life changing.
Why should I believe you?
 Don't. Ask God.
How?
 talk to him, ask him to remove your unbelief.

Death left the conversation. but death will return........Are you ready?