Will you choose death or eternal life? The answer seems to be a no-brainer. It would seem obvious that everyone would choose eternal life, but that is not the reality in our world. Each person is born physically alive but dead to the things of the Lord.
My granddaughter was born just a few months ago and, like all of us, started life in a condition of sinfulness that separates us from God. By God’s grace, some of my first memories are learning about God’s love from my mother reading me children’s Bible stories. A parent may have blessed you by teaching you about the Lord. While it is the Lord’s desire for every person to come to faith, He gives each person free will to follow Him or go their own way.
God Makes Himself Known to Everyone
Although not everyone receives the same opportunity to hear about the saving grace of Jesus, Paul gives us insight into how God makes himself known to everyone. Romans 1:18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. [1]
I have read many testimonies of people who cried out to God to show Himself if He was genuine, and the Lord responded. We don’t know what God knows or what is in people’s hearts, but we do know God is full of grace and mercy, so we simply must trust God in whatever He does.
The Gift of Jesus
Romans 6: 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.[2] Paul gives us the bad news first and then the good news of Jesus. As people, we deserve death because of our sins. But in God’s mercy, He sent His Son into this world to die for our sins on the cross. When we place our faith in Jesus, He forgives us, and the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our hearts.
Paul tells us this is a free gift, but it was not free to God because Jesus paid for our sins with His life. John 3:16 For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.[3] Today, if you have never placed your faith in Jesus as your Savior, the Lord calls you because He wants you to have eternal life.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I’ve kept You from my life for too long. I know I am a sinner and cannot save myself. No longer will I close the door when I hear you knocking. By faith, I gratefully receive Your gift of salvation. I am ready to trust you as my Lord and Savior. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for coming to earth. I believe you are the Son of God who died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead on the third day. Thank you for bearing my sins and giving me the gift of eternal life. I believe Your words are true. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, and be my Savior. Amen.[4]
Will you choose death or eternal life? To learn more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/believe-which-master
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.
[4] https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/prayer/the-sinners-prayer-4-examples.html