Parking Garage Christianity

" Do you guys validate?" How many of us have wandered around a mall, being jostled by the shopping masses, looking for a place where we can receive a "Yes" answer? This is not one of my favorite experiences in this physical realm, but it is something that I have had to engage in more times than I have ever wanted to. In the spiritual realm, I have asked myself the question "am i validated" infinitely more times. Have I received the stamp of approval that shows that I am worthy? Can I wander from task to task, or flee from sin that makes me more worthy to be validated spiritually? Don't do this-Do more of that. Don't go there ever-Go here once or twice a week. The list continued to grow, as did my failure to meet any of the requirements of that list. It was until just a few years ago that I still found myself searching for the right vendor to "validate" my Christianity. As I painfully reached the conclusion that there were no more things that I could or could not do that would validate me spiritually, I reached an important conclusion. My validation had already been achieved. A great big stamp "Debt Paid" had been stamped across my soul in a bright red ink. I realized I could never become more validated, and I could never become less validated. I could never be loved more, and could never be loved less. What I did find is that I can love more. I can love God more for his blessing of salvation, I can love my family more as they are a gift from God. I can love life more, because it is a gift of God meant to be used as appreciation for his work of validating me that he achieved on Calvary. Now the question that I ask myself is not "am I validated"- as I know that this work has been done, it is "how can I show my gratitude for the great work that has been done". " How can I seek to glorify God because of his gift" This should be our focus as Christians. "Lord, help me to realize that I am not longer stuck in the parking garage, looking for someone to tell me I am "OK". Help me to live with the reality that through you, I am more than ok, I am a conqueror.