God didn't have to do any of this. But He did because He wanted us. He desired our existance. He loves us and desires our love. But He didn't just end with our creation. He went a step further. He reached out to us. He knew that we'd mess up. That mankind would sin. That sin separated us from our wonderful God. He had a plan to remedy that as well. Some may ask, why did he need a plan for that? Can't you just be a good person and go to heaven? Isn't there more than one way to God? Well, no.
It's somewhat like the story I tell the children. Pretend your mother is inside all day long, working hard, cleaning her house from top to bottom. Everything is sqeaky clean. No dirt, no dust, no mess ANYWHERE. But you were outside, rolling around in the mud, fully clothed, shoes, socks, everything! She can't allow you inside her nice clean house all filthy and dirty. She probably wouldn't want to even hug or touch you! That mud separated you from the love of your Mother, physically speaking. Most likely, she'll hose you down, strip you down, and make sure you are clean from head to toe before you are allowed inside her clean house or she hugs you. Otherwise, your filth would corrupt her and her clean house.
God is perfect, holy, righteous, magnificent, glorious, and just. He is without sin. Perfect. His home is perfect as well, reflecting His glory. As for man, he's played around in the mud of sin. Wallowing in it from his head to his feet. God can't allow that kind of a mess in His house nor in His presence. He is worthy and sinless. But we can't just take a hose and wash the sin all off. We can't just shower and scrub ourselves clean with soap and water. The Bible says that the wages of sin is death(Romans 6:23) and that all men have sinned and fallen from God's glory(Romans 3:12). So based on this, not a single person can do anything on their own to enter God's Kingdom.
But like our mother who cleaned us up from the mud, God can cleanse us from our sins. He can through His Son, Jesus Christ. Sin corrupts us on the inside and Jesus is the only one who can wash us completely clean. Why Jesus? Because He was God's perfect Son. He chose to take the punishment for OUR sin, though He himself was sinless. He loved us so much that He stepped in on our behalf. He suffered, he bled, he died in my place and in your place. Why? Because the debt for mankind's sin had to be paid off. So He settled it once and for all. 1 Peter 3:19 says "Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit." Yes, Jesus died to take OUR punishment for sin. But He didn't stay dead. He rose on the third day! Some may discount this or claim it not true, but the evidence is there, the witnesses are there, and one day EVERY knee shall bow and EVERY tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Jesus himself said,"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
Where do you stand with Christ? God wants so much to have a personal relationship with you. Look at all that He has done just for YOU. He created you, He loves you, He has persued you your whole life! Yes, the God who created the universe and all that exists has PERSUED you so passionately. "For God loved the world so much that He gave His One and Only Son so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) Won't you respond to His love? Will you denounce Him or ignore Him yet again?
Won't you accept Jesus as your Savior? Respond by believing in Him as described in Romans 3:10 "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved." Respond by receiving Christ, that is acknowledge your belief in Him and turn to God. Let God direct your life. Invite Him into your life. When you do, you become a child of God. "But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:12)
If you would like to accept Christ as Savior, then simply pray. In this prayer, ddmit to God that you are a sinner. Ask His forgiveness for your sin and that you sincerely want to turn from that sinful way of living. (This is called repentence.) Believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who died for our sins, and who rose again on the third day. Confess Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, that is ask Him to come into your life, direct your life, and that you love and trust in Him.
Here's a prayer from my NLT Bible that you can pray or model your prayer after.
"Dear God, I know that my sin has separated me from you. Thank you that Jesus Christ died in my place. I ask Jesus to forgive my sin and to come into my life. Please begin to direct mylife. Thank you for giving me eternal life. In Jesus' name, Amen."
I'm praying for you!
In His Love, Cathy
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