This world is a mess! There is so much death, sickness, loneliness, and despair floating around. Turn on the news and you’ll instantly be depressed. Maybe you’re feeling alone, lost, or down. Maybe you’re looking for something. You don’t know what, and believe me, you’ve tried to find it. Turns out that while all those extra school clubs and groups can fill it for a time, you’re still left with something missing. I have some good news for you, though, and here it is: God loves you. Before you close this tab, just hang on. I was just like you and there was one day when I realized that there was no way I could go through this thing called life on my own. 

I had messed up my life, and I wasn’t even that old! Granted, I hadn’t actually killed anyone, but I was deep in sin, and while it would make me feel good for a while, it never lasted, and I was trapped inside a vicious cycle. I could see that I was going to go down a road that I wouldn’t be able to return from. But then someone stepped in and told me about a way out. They told me that my problem, sin, had started a long time ago:

In the beginning, when God created Adam and Eve, everything was perfect. Imagine a world without pain and sorrow! Unfortunately, Adam chose to disobey God, causing sin and death to enter the world due to his choice. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5:12). Man was separated from God because of Adam’s choice. “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners…” (Romans 5:19a). Every person since Adam and Eve has been born with a sin nature and is in need of a Saviour. This includes you and me. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Good people don’t exist. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8). There’s only one way to get to heaven, and you can’t get there by going to church. “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3).

So because of Adam’s choice, all of the people in the world are born with a sin nature. That sin nature comes with a consequence, and it’s not a good one. “For the wages of sin is death;” (Romans 6:23a). How can we get rid of our sin nature and rid ourselves of the death penalty? Here’s the secret: we can’t…but God can. “[B]ut the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23b).

God sent his only Son, who is the perfect Lamb of God, to pay the price for our sin. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16). Jesus was born of a virgin and was 100% man and 100% God. While he was tempted, he never once sinned. He lived a perfect, sinless life. 

Death is the penalty for sin, and someone had to pay up. Because God loved us so very much, He gave Himself for our sins, dying a cruel death by crucifixion. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8).

God died for you and me, paying our sin debt. But he did not stay dead! Three days after his death, Jesus rose from the grave, victorious! He had beaten death, and His blood had paid our debt. “For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived” (Romans 14:9a). 

God’s gift to you is eternal life (Romans 6.23b)! When you turn away from sin, believe on Jesus, and accept the wonderful gift He has given you, you are washed whiter than snow. How do you accept His gift? “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Romans 10:9). Don’t believe that God can save you? Maybe you think you’ve done something really, really bad? Take assurance in this: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13). Whosoever – anybody! What are you waiting for? Believe that God sent His perfect Son to earth, who lived a sinless life, willingly laid down his life, and rose again three days later. When you believe on God, every sin from your past and your future has been paid for and is washed away! The darkness is gone, and God sees you as His! If you’re looking for peace, God will give it to you. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” (Romans 5:1)

Heaven is what waits for the true believer. There, we’ll find happiness, peace, and beauty beyond our imagination. No more darkness, no more sickness, and no more death…ever. We’ll spend an eternity with our Saviour. I do have bad news though. If you reject God’s gift of life, you will be sent to Hell – a real place, not just a cuss word. “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:15). “And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 13:50). God also says about those that reject Him: “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment; but the righteous into life eternal.” (Matthew 25:46) I don’t know about you, but Hell does not sound like it would be fun. Who wants to spend an eternity in pain and fire?

I considered what I had been told and I made my choice. God gives us all a choice – either to accept His gift or to reject it. I chose to accept God’s gift. I want to live in Heaven for eternity, and I am so thankful that God has paid my debt for me. He truly loves me and you more than I could ever explain. I reached a crossroads in my life, and now it’s your turn to choose. Which path will you go down? Will you accept or reject the gift being offered to you? Praying a prayer will not save you, being baptized will not save you, being a good person will not save you, and going to church will not save you. Romans 10:13 said that you need to call upon the name of the Lord to be saved. Repent of your sins, confess them to God, and admit that you can’t save yourself. Trust me, the words will come. You don’t even need to say it out loud – God knows what’s in your heart. Just call on Him, and you will be saved! 

Now that is Good News!

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, King James Version