The Good News in a Nutshell

I gave my life to Jesus when I was young. Being committed to Jesus helped me to steer clear of some destructive decisions over the years. But He has also given me a meaning and purpose. Everything I do is for Him, to please Him and give Him glory.

That doesn’t mean I live the perfect life or have it all figured out. But that’s the beauty of it. Jesus lived the perfect life for me and He shares with me His right standing with God. And when I lack wisdom or provision, God is there giving me wisdom, guiding me, and meeting my needs big and small.

In a nutshell, God created us good. Our purpose was to worship God, to love each other, and to enjoy God’s creation. But since Adam we all go our own way and live for ourselves. We miss the point; this is what we call sin. Because of sin, death entered the world. Ultimately, if people want to do their own thing and ignore or deny God, God will let them have their way in eternity and let them remain forever away from His presence; this is what we call Hell. Hell is spiritual death because it is separation from God. But if we choose to honor God, receive His love for us, and share His love with others, God has also prepared a place for us together with Him in eternity; this is what we call Heaven.

God is fair, so He has to give people the just consequences for the condition of their hearts and their actions. Since sin is an offence against the infinite God, the price for sin is eternity in Hell. And since God’s standard is perfection, we are accountable for even the smallest little sin. It does not matter if the good outweighs the bad because just one sin requires eternal payment because it is owed to an eternal God. So when you think about all the things we think, say and do, we all are guilty of sinning on practically a daily basis, and deserving of Hell.

But God loves us and wants to set us free from the penalty of sin. So He sent His divine Son to take on a human nature like us. Jesus lived a perfect life in God’s eyes. He did not deserve to die either a physical or spiritual death. But He was killed by torture of a cross and experienced separation from His Father in order to pay the price for our sin. It is a gift He offers us of pardon from the penalty of sin. If we receive this gift and turn to God, away from sin, God will forgive us and cleanse our hearts. It’s a trade. Jesus takes our sin and gives us His righteousness in return. God adopts us as His children and sees us as His own. But it’s not only for this life that we have hope. The good news is that Jesus rose from the dead! And we who put our trust in Him have the hope that we to will rise with Him. Death is not the end for us.

In the meantime, God calls us to not only live a life of loving God and others. But He doesn’t leave to do it on our own. He gives us His Spirit Who gives us the desire and the power to seek God and walk in His ways. In this way, we experience the eternal life of God everyday.

If you think you are ready to become a Christian, this is a good link to go to: http://jesusfactorfiction.com/knowgod.html

 If you are not ready, that’s okay. Keep seeking the truth. I assure you such a quest can only lead you to Jesus Christ.