Here is the key to finding peace with God. We must abandon the pride which declares that we have done nothing wrong, that we are innocent, that there is nothing in our past or present that NEEDS forgiveness. We claim (and proclaim) that we have been falsely accused, persecuted by the system, abused by power and a victim of circumstance. We declare that the actions of our lives have been good, or at least above average, better than those around us... that we are just fine. It is this self-delusion which causes us to think that we can stand in the presence of a Holy God, be judged according to our works and have ANY hope at all of escaping the fires of hell. Be assured, if you ask God to judge you by your life and all its merits, you WILL be condemned, and you WILL be damned! When you stand before God with the evidence of your terrible guilt written all over your life and declare that you are innocent, you will find only wrath.
But when you confess your sin, when you own it AS sin and when you turn away from following it and ask God for mercy, you will find mercy in Him!! Don't ever lose sight of this central fact, mercy is ONLY for the guilty!! Let that sink in, the righteous do not need mercy. Jesus declared several times that He did not come for the righteous, but to call sinners to repentance. This is NOT an acknowledgment that the pharisees were righteous, rather it was simply a declaration that those who proclaim their own goodness and righteousness will find NO MERCY in Him. And this, beloved, is a sobering thought. For this same Jesus said in John 14.6 "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Mercy is for those who cry out for mercy, for those who have seen the terrible nature of their sin and turn from it to Jesus. And the most amazing part of this dynamic is this: those who seek mercy in Jesus will ALWAYS find it! Only, do not delay my beloved, for the offer of mercy is for today. When you stand at the throne of judgment, it will be too late.