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By the time you get home from a rough day at work, you're exhausted. Or after spending a long day with the kids, it's all you can do to keep from crashing into bed! Perhaps your difficulties run a little deeper… a sickness that you or a loved one have been struggling with for awhile, perhaps you've just lost your job, or maybe lost someone that was close to you, maybe even someone on September 11? Whatever your situation, there's good news! But, for the "good news" to be even better, let's look at what the Bible says first about our condition as human beings. In other words, the bad news. The Apostle Paul, in Romans 3:23, tells that each of us has sinned – we have each chosen to rebel against a holy and perfect God. A lie. A murder. Dishonoring Mom and Dad. Cheating on a test or on tax reports. Whatever the case, God says that each of us is a sinner. And, the bad news gets worse! Romans 6:23 goes on to say that as sinners, we deserve and are headed to hell. Not a pretty thought, you say? You're absolutely right. It's not something that we want to think about. But, the Bible says that this is our destiny. Unless. Unless we look at the good news! So what is this good news? So avoid any misunderstanding, look at a couple of verses with me. "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8 Let me rephrase this just a bit: But God demonstrates His own love for ME in this: While I was still a sinner, Christ died for ME. And not only did He die, but He rose from the dead! "That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." - Romans 10:9-10 Did you catch that? You WILL be saved. One more… 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. – Ephesians 2:8-9 Grace. Something that we don't deserve. Something that God offers to those who believe in Jesus through faith… believing the unbelievable. But the point of these last words in Ephesians is that God is the one that has done it all. Our "good works", our giving to the poor, our trying to be good … in God's eyes, it's good that we do that, but it means nothing in light of our salvation. God wants us to accept what Jesus did for us on the cross. He wants us to believe in Him. He doesn't care about our feeble attempt to save ourselves. So where to from here? Simply put, if you realize and accept a few things about yourself… …that you are a sinner, that you've sinned against a holy God …that you, without God, are headed to eternity separated from God ... to hell and realize and accept a few things about Jesus Christ… …that Jesus came to earth and died for you, in your place …that Jesus is the only way for you to have a right relationship with God …that Jesus Christ is the only "Way, Truth, and Life" (John 14:6) to heaven …that Jesus Christ wants to be the Lord and Master of your life then you, too, can have not only a wonderful joy and peace here on earth, but more importantly, you can have the assurance of spending eternity with God in heaven. Back to our original question: Life is tough, isn't it? The answer is still: Yes! But, how much better go through life with joy, a purpose, and a loving Savior who helps us …not to mention knowing for sure that we will be in heaven for eternity! Bottom line: your choice. Accept what Jesus Christ has done for you. Reject what Jesus Christ has done for you. The choice is yours. If you would like to talk to someone and find out more, just click here, give us a call (815 264-3908) or stop by the church whenever you're able. Don't put this off – your eternity depends on it!
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