Not typically the type to speak on God often but it was brought to my attention and I thought it would be good to share.. just so y'all know..
When Adam and Eve sinned and their eyes were open to their nakedness, God provided clothes for them
(Genesis 9:3) Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.
So, Even when we mess up, God still provides.
Any common person can be taken over by temptation, but God will not give you more than you can bear, and whatever temptation you fall weak to.. he'll provide a way out for you
(1 Corinthians 10:13) There hath no temptation taken hold of you but such as is common to man. But God is faithful; He will not suffer you to be tempted beyond that which ye are able to bear, but with the temptation will also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
He hears your cries for help and sends you a way out. If only you take it. The Lord favors the broken. He's in the business of saving the crushed souls.. saving you from the pain and depression. He will take all that away from you and leave you whole again without a single broken bone.
(Psalm 34:17-20) 17 When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears
and delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
20 He keeps all his bones;
not one of them is broken
If you think you're a POS, God doesn't. He sees you with love and empathy and just wants to hug you and listen to you and be your friend
He doesn't expect you to come to him when you're perfect. He doesn't even expect you to change and become perfect. He knows we're human and we will make mistakes. But as long as you believe that Jesus was resurrected. You will be saved. It doesn't say there are any other things you need to do except admit he came back from the dead.
(Romans 10:9) because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
So all that stuff from the church saying you need to do this or that to get into heaven is opinion. Fact is in the text. Because you see the thing is. If you confess your belief in that. Then he will begin to guide you on the path you're supposed to travel.
(Psalm 23:3) He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness[a]
for his name's sake.
The Bible is meant to light your way, it's not meant to be an absolute to every decision you make. It's just meant to guide you.
(Psalm 119:105)
Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path
So if you don't meet the "criteria" that media and experience has taught us that the church says we should meet. You don't have to. You just have to take a walk with your friend. He's not your prison guard. He's your teacher.