I Can Be Saved

I was reading through Preach My Gospel and I came across a lesson on judgement and being cleansed of sin. I don't know what it was about this lesson that really caught me off track. It is indeed true that I have heard of it, learned of it, and have read of it many times before. However,  some times I find that even the most familiar of lessons can catch something and intrigue me.
      Once we pass away from the mortal bodies we have on Earth, we will be brought into God's presence to be judged according to our works and desires of this life. We will 'remember perfectly our righteousness and our guilt'.  Because no unclean thing can dwell before God, we must be pure. However, here lies the problem. We are anything but pure. We sin constantly! We cannot be in the presence of God currently. So, how can we get there?
       The answer is simple. The Atonement. Through Jesus Christ, our sins were paid for. He suffered, bled, and died so that we might have the opportunity to repent. Without repentance we cannot be pure and clean. We cannot dwell before God. With an honest desire to be worthy and through repentance, our sins can be washed away.
       The sins in which we repent for we will receive mercy for when it comes time for judgement. See, here is what caught me, I think. Justice means that consequences are provided for good and bad actions. For disobedience, penalties. For righteousness, blessings. We will be judged justly by God according to our works and desires. Christ atoned for our sins, but he did not remove all possibility of penalty.  He satisfied the demands for justice so that we might have mercy in our judgement. We are still held responsible but have the opportunity to have mercy through repentance. God forgives us of our sins when we accept him, repent, and obey His commandments. Just because Jesus Christ atoned for our sins does not mean that we are let off the hook entirely. In the time of judgement, Christ is a friend who pleads on our behalf for forgiveness. They both know of the desires of our hearts.
        It is so humbling to know that no matter how much I mess up there is still hope for me. If I truly desire it, I can become a pure being and dwell in the presence of Heavenly Father, himself. Oh, what a long ways I have yet to go. I am humbled to know that a great person like Jesus Christ himself suffered extreme pain so that I can be free of the bounds, weights, and restrictions of guilt and sin. I know that I am free to make my own decisions and that by choosing the right, I can return to Him.