You know the old adage that says "I've got some good news and I've got some bad news. Which do you want to hear first?" Well, I'm going to start with the bad news. Every single one of us is born with a problem. We are all born sinners and separated from God. The Bible says in Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" and in Romans 3:10-11 "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God." There was nothing we had to do to become a sinner. We are just sinners by nature. The Bible also tells us that the sin in our lives has a consequence. Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death...". This death is not only physical, but even more devastating, it is also spiritual death. In Exodus 34:7 "...Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished...". That punishment is described in Revelation 20:15 "If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire". Sound's pretty awful, doesn't it? It would be the most awful thing of all if that was the end. But, thank the Lord, it doesn't end there. Now on to the good news.
The God who created us is not only a God who is just, He is also a God of mercy. He knew that we were lost and without hope. Condemned by our sins to an eternity in hell. God looked on us and did the most amazing thing. He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to live on this earth and to die for our sins. John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Jesus Christ, God Himself, lived a perfect life and when the time came, died on the cross, paying the price for all the sins we have ever committed or will commit. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." Our sin had separated us from God. It had made it impossible for us to ever reach Him. But when Christ died on the cross and paid the punishment for our sins, He became the bridge that allowed us to reach God.
Jesus Christ's death on the cross provided for us a home in heaven and a restored relationship with God. It is a gift to us free of charge. However, as with all gifts, you must accept it before it can be yours. Accepting God's gift of salvation is as simple as admitting that you are a sinner and cannot save yourself, believing that Jesus Christ is God, that He died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins, and that He rose from the grave in victory over death. In faith you place your trust in Jesus Christ to be your Savior and Lord of your life. Ephesians 2:8-9 says "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works so that no one can boast."
Placing our trust in Jesus Christ and receiving His free gift of eternal life is the most important decision we will ever make. He not only provides for us a home in heaven after we die, but we have a friend who will never leave us while we live out our lives on this earth. He watches over us, protects us, loves us, teaches us about how to live for someone besides ourselves, and teaches us how to love others. He brings us back into a right relationship with God, forgives our sins, promises us that whatever we go through He will never leave us or forsake us. If you have never put your faith and trust in Christ, do so now. There are no cons in making this decision, only pros. If you would like to know more about how to place your trust in Christ, email us at this address: marjil1@bigfoot.com