When I talk to non-believers about Christ they sometimes have a hard time grasping the concept that His death covered all sins, that grace is available to everyone. Sure, it's conceivable that He died for liars, cheaters, adulterers and those who might use the Lord's name in vein. But certainly Christ couldn't have been thinking of murderers, rapists, and kidnappers when He hung on that cross. Those people are really bad and there can't be a place for them in heaven.

As many of us are aware, the bible tells us that a sin is a sin and once we have broken one of the laws we are guilty of breaking all of them. It's hard to understand the fact that we are all equally guilty when we measure ourselves against God's perfect standard. It is all to common to measure ourselves horizontally (against each other) and be satisfied then to measure ourselves vertically (against Christ) and realize how much we have failed our God.

For people that refuse to believe that anyone can become a Christ follower and enter heaven I use this illustration. Imagine a measuring stick. On the left end is the most righteous person (besides Jesus) that you can think of. Most people would say Mother Theresa. On the right end of the measuring stick put the worst sinner you can think of, maybe someone who rapes and kills children. At what point on the measuring stick does Jesus' blood stop covering sins and where do we fit in?

Starting with Mother Theresa we move to the right to say liars, not a big deal, right? We move a little further to cheaters, like in school, still, not a big deal. Then we move on to thieves, just petty thieves. Then to those who struggle with lust, etc. At what point along the measuring stick does Jesus' blood stop covering us? When we get to murder or rape? The facts are this, no where will you find a line of tolerance, a point when God says "No, no, you've gone too far."

Those that know God and know His word understand that we are all to the right of the line. The line starts before Mother Theresa and we have all crossed it. Only Christ sits to the left of that line. There is no tolerance of sin, it is an absolute standard that we are all guilty of and there is no sin bigger than a dead Jesus.

Christ's death was for all, He never said just some or most. Regardless of sin, if your conversion is sincere, if you have seen the errors of your ways and put your hope in the One who took the penalty you deserved, you will be saved. John 3:16, Romans 10:9 leaves no room for doubt, salvation is available to all. God bless.