We live in a world that can be discouraging, painful, uncertain, disappointing and even frightful. However, there is great hope for everyone one of us. That hope can only be found in Jesus Christ. The world we live in is broken by sin. But, this broken world was not God’s plan for us.
God made a perfect world and the first two humans he made were perfect in the beginning. However, these first two humans were deceived and they disobeyed God’s command. When this happened sin entered our world and broke everything. The worst part is it broke mankind’s relationship with God. Every human born after these first two were born with sin in their heart. That means that all of mankind has sin within them. The Bible tells us that sin has a punishment which is death apart from God, in a dark and horrid place, forever. (Rom 6:23) This is all bad news for mankind. But there is some really good news. Great news. It’s called the Gospel.
The good news is that God doesn’t want to be separated from you and me. (2Peter3:9) We are all his creation and He loves you, me and all people. (John 3:16) God loves everyone of us so much that he created a rescue plan for us. God chose to enter the earth himself in the form of a human, Jesus Christ. He came for one reason, to pay the price for our sin.
All of us deserve God’s punishment for sin, (Eph 2:1-3) but we don’t ever have to take that punishment when we know Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Jesus, who is actually God in human form, grew from a new born baby into a man. At the end of his life some evil men became very jealous of him and they decided to kill him. However, it was God’s plan for Jesus to die all along. Jesus HAD to die to take the punishment for our sin. Since the punishment for sin is death, that was the only way.
So Jesus allowed these evil men to beat him and hang him on a cross where he died and took the punishment for your sin and my sin. (Matt 26:53) Three day’s later he rose from the dead, proving He was indeed God and that our sin had been completely paid for and washed away. His death restored our relationship with God and we can now live forever in Heaven because of what Jesus did. (1Cor15:1-4)
Why did God go to all this trouble? Jesus didn’t do anything wrong, he was perfect. What made Jesus willingly take this punishment? God’s love for you is the reason he did it. It’s the reason he came. So now, because of what Jesus did, you can know God and live forever in heaven with Him. (John 3:16)
Now that is the greatest gift we can ever receive. It’s the gift of eternal life in heaven, from Jesus. But there is one more very important thing about this gift. The gift of life from Jesus is free. You can’t earn it or work for it. It’s given to you freely as grace. But, you have to receive the gift. You have to make the choice to take this gift.
Let me tell you what I mean. Lets say I come to your house carrying a huge present, wrapped in Christmas paper with a big bow. I ring your doorbell, you answer, and I hold out that gift for you and say Merry Christmas! Now you have a choice to make. You can take that gift from my hands and it is now yours forever. Or, you can close the door and walk away. I will leave, and you don’t get the gift I was trying to give you.
The same is with Jesus. He is holding out the free gift of heaven for you. He has taken the punishment for your sin and you can live with Him forever in heaven one day. BUT first, you have to make the choice to receive Him. This choice is a personal choice between you and Jesus. It’s not about doing what your family thinks you should do, what your relatives have done, or what sounds good. This is a choice between you and Jesus only. Accepting this gift means that you want Jesus to be the new King of your life. You want to turn from your old sinful life and live a new life his way, every single day. This is a very important, personal decision. Are you going to accept this gift of life from Jesus?
Now I know it’s possible that you may already know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and I hope you do. Or it’s possible that you don’t know Jesus yet. If you don’t, maybe God is working in your heart right now and you are ready to make that choice to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and receive the free gift of life in heaven. If so, you can receive Jesus right now.
All you have to do is be willing to turn from living life your way and choose to live your life Jesus’s way. (Repent) You don’t have to be perfect or sinless, but you have to be willing to call Jesus your Lord and let Him start to change your heart. You also have to believe that He is the Son of God and that he has paid the penalty for your sin with his blood and that He is alive in heaven today. If this is where your heart is right now then just close your eyes and proclaim this to Jesus. Let Him know whats going on in your heart. His grace is for all people, no one excluded, and He will save you if you come to Him. (Rom10:13)
Friend, know that I am praying for you and I want you to know the peace, rest, love, joy and great hope that is found only in Jesus Christ.
- For the Glory of God in Love
