The Safety Net | 1 John 1:8

“If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.” (1 John 1:8 NLT)

Visitors to San Francisco can’t help but be amazed at the architectural marvel that is the Golden Gate Bridge. But its beauty and innovation came at a tremendous cost. During the initial phases of construction, several workers lost their balance and plunged to their deaths in the San Francisco Bay.

The builders were concerned about the human tragedy, of course. But they were also concerned about the delays in the schedule because of the deaths. They needed to find a way to keep their workers safe under the most dangerous conditions. The solution they arrived at was something that had never been done before.

The builders installed a giant safety net under the construction area. The workers knew that if they fell, the net would catch them. The experience wouldn’t necessarily be pleasant for the unfortunate worker, but at least he would live to tell about it. Thanks to the net, workers could go about their business without the fear of dying. With the threat removed, they were able to move quickly and finish the project.

Did you know that God has put a safety net under you? By that I mean, when you slip, when you fall, when you make a mistake, you don’t have to worry that your name will be blotted out of the Book of Life. You don’t have to face the prospect of becoming persona non grata with God.

The apostle Paul wrote, “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood” (Romans 3:23–25 NLT).

If you believe in Christ, you have a spiritual safety net. You have a barrier against spiritual death. Because Jesus came into your heart, forgave you, and committed Himself to you, He now protects you, seals you, and justifies you because of that commitment.

The fact is that we as Christians will sin and fall short. The Scriptures, as well as our own experiences in life, tell us this is true. According to 1 John 1:8, “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth” (NLT). This isn’t an excuse for ungodly living. Nor is it a license for sin. It’s a simple acknowledgment of reality.

Yet Paul wrote, “I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love” (Romans 8:38 NLT).

Nothing can dismantle our safety net.

Reflection question: What does your spiritual safety net mean to you? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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