Though they are not as common in this world of high tech measuring devices as they once were, most of us can remember and appreciate the functionality of a balance. It is a T shaped instrument with a pivotal cross member (like a seesaw at the park), each end containing a suspended tray. On one tray a specified weight (e.g. 1/4 lb.) was placed, and on the other tray a commodity (e.g. sugar) was added until the cross beam of the balance became level. At that point it was certain that the weight of the commodity was equal to the specified weight in the opposing tray. (i.e. 1/4 lb of sugar).
It is a horrifying reality that most people in most cultures where there is a God consciousness, believe that someday they will be judged by God using the principles of a balance. They believe that on “Judgment Day” God will place their bad deeds on one side of His balance and their good deeds on the other. If their good deeds are more plenteous (heavier) than their bad deeds, God will be pleased and let them into His Heaven. On the other hand, if their bad deeds outweigh their good deeds, God will reject them and cast them into the fires of Hell.
The analogy may seem plausible, but in reality, nothing could be further from the truth. In God’s way of reckoning, we were all born with a sinful nature, and as we drew our first breaths we became sinners by choice. Since bad only produces more bad, if God were to use the balance method to determine where we would spend eternity, we would have nothing to place on the “good deeds” tray. No one would go to Heaven.
But there will be no balance on Judgment Day. God sent Jesus into the world to live, die, and be resurrected from the dead, to pay the penalty of your sins and mine. For those who will exercise their faith and call upon Him for help, He offers forgiveness and reconciliation (restored fellowship) with God.
Jesus Christ offers to take your sin upon Himself and give you His righteousness instead. God’s justice is then satisfied because the wages of sin have been paid—your sin. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)”