There are only two questions that really matter:
"Why am I here, and where am I going?"
Once we have those questions answered, all the other big questions like, "What happens when I die?, How should I live now?", or "How can I be happy?" all fall into place.
You are here because God put you here.
You didn't just happen. You are not an accident. The Bible declares that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. Not only that, but God knows you and loves you! The same God who made everything, and knows when every sparrow falls, is intimately acquainted with you; every sorrow, every joy, every hope that you have, is known by your Heavenly Father. God is so big that he has time for you!
This is wonderful news, but sometimes human pride gets in the way of fellowship with our divine Father. We are like a clay pot who says to his potter, "Why have you made me this way?"
You will live forever, no matter who you are, but where?
Your body will die someday, but your spirit never dies. The eternal God who made us created us in His image, to live forever in fellowship with Him.
God is not only all powerful and all knowing, he is also Holy. That means He is utterly perfect and pure in His own moral law. Part of God's law says that He cannot let sin go unpunished. There is a severe penalty for sin.
God says the "Soul that sins, it will die." This means the sinning soul will suffer eternal punishment and separation from God.
Are you a saint or a sinner?
There is good news and bad news. The Bibles says, All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God, or put another way, "Nobody's perfect." The bad news is that God's standard is perfection; "Be ye perfect as I am perfect." We wont get to heaven if we're pretty good; if our good deeds outweigh our bad deeds. Any sin, no matter how small, disqualifies you from heaven and fellowship with God.
So what's the Good News?
The Good News is that God has provided a way out, a way to be saved from the punishment we deserve for being sinners. That's what Christians mean when they talk about "getting saved."
The Bible says "by grace you have been saved, though faith..." 'grace' is a fancy word that means God favors us, even though we don't deserve it.
'faith' means to put your trust in something. You may believe the bridge will support your car, but you haven't put your faith in it until you drive over. You may believe in God, but you haven't put your faith in Him until you trust in His bridge to salvation.
In the same verses, the Bible goes on to explain this saving faith is the "gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast."
Suppose your boss invited you to his home for dinner, and you said, "No, I can't take a meal for free. I will wash the dishes or clean out the garage". You have refused his invitation and scorned his generosity.
God's gift of salvation is like that, free for the taking. Too often we refuse this free gift, insisting we must work for it by doing religious "stuff" or doing good works.
The reason we can't earn our way to heaven is, "lest any man should boast."
Nobody is going to enter God's heaven bragging that, "I made it, but that rascal neighbor didn't. I'm pretty darn good!"
So how do you receive this gift of salvation?
The Bible says that God made his son, Jesus, an "acceptable sacrifice" for our sins. When this man who never sinned died on the cross, His blood, His death, paid the penalty for our sins. He died in our place; For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
The Bible says "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved." That is the free gift, and the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Believe on - put your faith and the trust in the
Lord - master, turn your life over to Jesus
Jesus - means savior. trust in His saving work on the cross.
Christ - refers to Jesus' being the son of God, the perfect "anointed one", whose sinless life could pay the debt owed by sinners.Wont you pray this simple prayer right now?
Lord, Jesus, I know I'm a sinner and I'm sorry for my sins. I'm trusting you to be my savior with all my heart. I want to learn your ways and follow you all of my life.
If you prayed that prayer, please come to us, or another Bible believing church, so we can help you get off to a good start in your new life with Jesus. God Bless You! The angels in heaven are rejoicing over your salvation right now!