September 2010
This month's view asks the two most important
questions concerning your future and hope
that you need to consider. It is extremely
important to "...always be ready to
give a defense to everyone who asks you
a reason for the hope that is in you, with
meekness and fear."1
Two Important Questions
A dear friend, named Lyle, recently shared
in a letter how he felt led to ask his neighbor
this first question: "Have you come
to a place in your thinking where you know
for certain that when you die you will go
to Heaven?" His neighbor wasn't certain,
like many who I have shared with over the
years.
Here's another question: "Suppose
that you were to die today and stand before
God, and He were to say to you, 'Why should
I let you into my heaven?' What would you
say?"
I've asked this second question numerous
times. Many say they can't imagine why God
would want them in His Heaven, while telling
me of their sinful lifestyle. Others try
to qualify for heaven by being Americans,
a church goer, a giver to the poor, or a
number of other good works.
My friend's neighbor became certain of
her future and hope, and you too, can know
that you are heaven bound. It is very important
'...that you know you have eternal life,"2
and the reason why.
Heaven's A Free Gift
If a company on the internet offers you
something for free, you expect it to have
no hidden costs. Heaven is free with no
strings attached, this "...free Gift
of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus
our Lord."3
Some realize they don't deserve eternal
life, but many think they can earn it by
their good works. To the contrary, "For
by grace [God's ability] you have been saved
through faith [in God's grace], and that
not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
not of works, lest anyone should boast."4
Man is a sinner by birth. "When Adam
sinned, sin entered the entire human race.
Adam's sin brought death, so death spread
to everyone, for everyone sinned. The sin
of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule
over us, but all who receive God's wonderful
gracious gift of righteousness will live
in triumph over sin and death through this
one man, Jesus Christ."5
No matter how hard you work, you cannot
save yourself. "God saved us, not because
of the good things we did, but because of
His mercy. He washed away our sins and gave
us a new life through the Holy Spirit. He
generously poured out the Spirit upon us
because of what Jesus Christ our Savior
did. He declared us not guilty because of
His great kindness. And now we know that
we will inherit eternal life."6
God is Love
I took Heaven as a free gift in 1975. I
didn't deserve it, because I was a sinner.
I couldn't save myself, but God was merciful
on me, because He didn't want to punish
me. "The Lord wasn't being slow about
His promise to return, as some people think.
No, He was being patient for my sake. He
didn't want me to perish, so He gave me
time to repent."7
Today, He is giving you the chance to
repent. God is just, and He will surely
punish sin. "For the wages of sin is
death, but the free gift of God is eternal
life through Christ Jesus our Lord."8
This was Good News to me. Christ took my
place on the cross for my sin. He was buried
and He rose from the dead to give me eternal
life. "For God made Christ, who never
sinned to be the offering for our sin, so
that we could be made right with God through
Christ."9
The gift is none other than God giving
Himself to us in the body of Jesus Christ,
thereby establishing personal relationship
with mankind. "For God so loved the
world, that He gave His only Son, so that
everyone who believes in Him will not perish
but have eternal life."10
Listen, "...God has testified: He has
given us eternal life, and this life is
in His Son. So whoever has God's Son has
life; whoever does not have His Son does
not have life."11
Receive Jesus Today!
Do you have the life of Jesus in your heart?
If you receive His payment for your sin
and resurrected life, you'll be ready for
Heaven. "For we are all Children of
God by faith in Christ Jesus."12
Faith is trusting in Jesus Christ alone
for your righteousness, which is not only
right standing with God, but the ability
to stand in God's presence without any sense
of sin, guilt, and inferiority. "...to
all who believe Jesus, and accept Him, He
gives the right to become Children of God.
They are reborn! This rebirth comes from
God."13
Repentance is absolutely necessary to
John the Baptist, Jesus, and Peter. "Each
of you must turn from your sins and turn
to God, and be baptized in the Name of Jesus
Christ for the forgiveness of sins. Then
you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."14
Repentance means a simple change of mind,
heart, and will. If you are trusting in
your good works for righteousness instead
of by faith in Jesus Christ, you must repent
of idolatry.
God wants us to trust in the sacrifice
of Jesus. He wants us to receive a quality
of righteousness that is so pure that it
will qualify us for all God has and will
empower us to live as we should. He wants
us to have a righteousness that is ours
apart from our performance -- a righteousness
that is found only in Jesus. This is why
Jesus said, "Unless our righteousness
exceeds the righteousness of the Scribes
and Pharisees, you will by no means enter
the Kingdom of Heaven."15
A Prayer For You ...
Heavenly Father, in the
Name of Jesus, I surrender to you, repenting
of my sins, and for trusting in my good
works for righteousness. I believe that
You sent Your Son Jesus to take my sin,
guilt, and pain upon Himself, so that I
could be made right with You. I believe
my sins are completely forgiven because
of the precious blood of Jesus. I believe
that You raised Jesus from the dead, and
I confess Jesus as Lord with my mouth. Forgive
me for trying to save myself by my own works.
I turn to You with all my heart and trust
only in the finished work of Calvary. Thank
You for this awesome gift of eternal life.
Thank You for taking up residence in my
heart and for inviting me into Your glorious
kingdom. I commit my life to serving before
Your throne forever. Amen.
Scripture References:
Acknowledgement: A special thanks
to Sherry for transcribing this months view!
|
