Eternal Life - Life's Greatest Decision
The most important decision we make in
this life is where we'll spend our eternal life. When we
have made that choice,
we're not only prepared to die we're finally prepared to live!
Spiritual life is not just "religion." It is a relationship
with God!
Two great moments in our lives are when we are born and when
we discover why we were born. We were created for a reason
- a divine purpose. Our lives are not accidents or fate. God
has a personal plan for each of us. His purpose in our lives
can only be accomplished because of Jesus Christ.
Life has only two roads, and we are on one of them. One leads
to death and punishment - the other to everlasting life.
Jesus Christ taught that every person will exist for eternity.
The apostle Paul wrote to the Roman Christians: "For the
wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life
in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23) He also taught
that being saved from sin's penalty is simple: "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." (Romans
10:9, 10)
We all know in our hearts that we have sinned. Even if we
have never read a Bible or do not understand what it means
to sin against God we can know we are sinners, because God
created each of us with a conscience. We know what we don't
want others to do to us. We don't want them to steal our possessions,
lie about us or be unkind to us. When we do to someone what
we don't want done to us, our conscience lets us know we have
done wrong.
The penalty for sin is death. That is why all people die.
But 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ the holy Son of God became
a man. For 33 years He lived without sin. Then He was killed.
He paid the penalty for sin without committing the crime. So
death had no power over Him. After three days, He came back
to life again.
He is alive! And now He offers forgiveness of sin and the
gift of everlasting life to everyone who will ask Him.
God loves you very much and He would like nothing more than
for you to become a follower of His son, Jesus. It's not hard.
In fact, there is nothing you can do to earn salvation. Jesus
has done the work for you by dying on the cross for your sins.
No matter what you have done, Jesus wants to make you a new
person. All you have to do is ask Him.
You can receive Christ as your Savior right now, this moment!
You can pray wherever you are. God is listening. You can tell
Him in your own words that you are sorry for your sins and
that you want Jesus to become the leader of your life, to make
you a new person, and to guide and shape you from this moment
on. Then thank God for loving you enough to not give up on
you, but to make your salvation possible through His son, Jesus
Christ. Or you can pray the following prayer:
"God, I know I have sinned. I believe
Your Son, Jesus Christ, died to take the punishment for
my sin. I believe
Jesus came back to life from death and has the power to forgive
my sin and change my life. Forgive me. Come into my life
and change me. I want to live for You and follow Your plan
for my life. I believe You have forgiven me, and I thank
You for hearing my prayer, in Jesus' name."
If you prayed this prayer and meant it from your heart, God
has forgiven you. Now you can begin the life He has planned
for you! Step by step God will lead you to what He has chosen
for you. He will show you the way to live and will teach you
each day as you grow and become the person He planned for you
to be.
There are three things you can do to help build your faith.
They are...
- Pray every day (Just talk to God
like you would your best friend.)
- Read the Bible every day (You can
start with one of the Gospels, like John)
- Get involved in a local church (God
intended for us to help one another as we lead a Christian
life)
One of a person's greatest needs in life is to be part of
a family. This is also true in your new life in Christ. You
need to become part of a church. A church is a group of people
following Jesus just as you are. You need to join in worshiping
God with other Christians. You will grow spiritually stronger
in a church, because the church is a spiritual family and your
spiritual brothers and sisters will encourage you and help
you grow. Pray and ask God to guide you to the church where
you should belong. You need to be part of a church where salvation
through faith in Jesus Christ is preached and a church where
the Bible is believed, taught and obeyed. If you do not have
a church, and live in the Cedar Rapids area, we invite you
to visit us. We have many areas of ministry that will help
you as you take this next step in following Jesus. God bless
you!
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