WHAT IS MISSING IN OUR LIVES? Purpose, meaning, a reason for living---these are all things we desire and search for in life. Despite steps each one of us takes to find purpose and meaning in life, we still feel empty, unfullfilled. That is because there is a spiritual emptiness in each of our lives. We each have a hole in our heart, a spiritual vacuum deep within our soul---a "God-shaped blank." Possessions won't fill this hole, nor will success. Relationships alone cannot satisfy this emptiness, and morality, in and of itself, falls miserably short of occupying this space. In fact, even religion cannot fill the void in our hearts (see John 4:13-15; 5:39-40; 6:63-65). THE PROBLEM: SIN The bible clearly identifies our serious problem as sin. Sin is not just an act but the actual nature of our being. In other words, we are not sinners because we sin. Rather, we sin because we are sinners! We are born with a nature to do wrong. King David, the Old Testament Israelite ruler wrote, "For I was born a sinner-yes, from the moment my mother concieved me" (Psalm 51:5). Because we are born sinners, sinning comes to all of us naturally. That is why it is futile to think that the answer to all of life's problems comes from "within." According to the Bible, the problem is within! Scripture tells us, "The human heart is most decietful and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?" (Jeremiah 17:9). We are not basically good---we are basically sinful. This sinfulness spills out into everything we do. Every problem we experience in our society today can be traced back to our refusal to live God's way. Clear back to the Garden of Eden, Adam made his choice, and he suffered the consequences of it, setting the pattern that all humanity would follow. The bible explains, "When Adam sinned, sin entered thehuman race. Adam's sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned....Yes, Adam's one sin brought condemnation upon everyone" (Romans 5:12, 18). "That's not fair!" you may protest. Why should we suffer because of what someone else has done? Yet, given the opportunity, each one of us would have done the same thing as Adam. God has given us the freedom to choose between two seperate paths: the path that leads to life and the path that leads to death. The bible says, "Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, that you and your descendants might live! (Deuteronomy 30:19). THE SOLUTION: JESUS CHRIST God understood our problem and knew that we could do nothing about it. Because God loves us, he sent his own Son, Jesus Christ to earth to bridge the chasm of sin that seperates us from him (see John 1-16; 6:47; 8:24) WHY JESUS CAN BRIDGE THE GAP There has never been anyone like Jesus. For starters, Jesus was not concieved in the womb of his mother through natural means. Rather he was supernaturally concieved in the womb of a young virgin named Mary. Because of his supernatural conceptions, Jesus, who is wholly God, also became wholly human. Though Jesus is God, he chose to lay aside the privileges of his deity to live on earth as a man. The bible, describing the sacrifice Christ made in becoming a man, says that Jesus "Made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal's death on a cross" (Phillippians 2:7-8). It is extremely important to note that Jesus did not cease to be God when he came to earth. He simply lay aside his divine privileges and walked the earth as a man. In doing so, he was personally able to experience the gamut of human emotions, ranging from happiness to deep sorrow. He felt what it was like to be tired, cold, and hungry. Moreover, he came to this earth with a clear objective in mind: to bridge that gap between us and God. When the Israelites of the Old Testament sinned, they would have the high proest go into the temple and offer an animal sacrifice to God to atone for their sins. In a symbolic sense, this was a way of putting one's sin on the animal, which stood in the place of the guilty person. The bible teaches, "without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins" (Hebrews 9:22). The sacrificial rituals carried out by the Israelites in the old testament forshadowed what Jesus would do when he came to this earth. He tok the sin of the world upon himself when he hung on the cross so many years ago. Numerous old testament prophecies pointed not only to his birth and life, but also to his death, including the way in which he would die. Jesus knew from the beginning that he had come expressly to die for the sins of humanity. He also knew that this sacrifice would be made on a Roman cross. He began his final journey to the cross of Calvary at a place called Caesarea Philippi, and he often spoke of his impending death with his disciples. Scripture records, "From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that he had to go to Jerusalem, and he told them what would happen to him there. He would suffer at the hands of the leaders and the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, and he would be raised on the third day" (Matthew 16:21). He was eventually arrested on false charges after Judas Iscariot, one of his own disciples, betrayed him. But it was no accident. If humanity was going to be put in touch with God and have the barrier that separated them removed, something drastic had to be done. In essence, with one hand Jesus took hold of a Holy God, and with the other hand he took hold of the sinful human race. As crude nails were pounded into his hands, he bridged the gap for us! We must not forget, however, that three days after his crucifixion, Jesus rose from the dead! If it is true that "you can't keep a good man down," then it is even true that you can't keep the "God-man" down. THE RESPONSE: ACCEPT GOD'S OFFER To know Jesus Christ personally and have your sin forgiven, you must believe that you are a sinner separated from God and that your only hope is Jesus Christ, the son of God, who came and died for your sins. To stop here, however, would be to stop short of salvation. There are two things you must now do to enter into a relationship with the God from whom you have been separated. 1. TURN FROM YOUR SINS As Jesus began his public ministry, his first message was, "Turn from your sins" (Mark 1:15). He was telling people to repent--to acknowledge their sins, change their minds, and change the direction of their lives. Look at it this way. In the past we have been blinded by our sin, causing us to run from God. As we repent, we do a "U-turn" and start running toward him. It is not enough just to be sorry for our sins. We must also change our lifestyle, for the bible teaches that "God can use sorrow in our lives to help us turn away from sin and seek salvation" (2 Corinthians 7:10). In other words, if you are really sorry for something, it will result in a change in your actions. The apostle Paul summed up this change succintly when he quoted Jesus, who said that people must "turn from the darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will recieve forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God's people, who are set apart by faith in me" (Acts 26:18). You see, there are some things only God can do and some things only you can do. Only God can remove your sins and give you the gift of eternal life, but only you can turn from your sins and recieve Jesus as your savior. That brings up the second thing you must do to respond to God's offer.
2. BELIEVE IN AND RECIEVE JESUS CHRIST INTO YOUR LIFE
Having seen the enormity of your sin nad having decided to turn away from it, you then must believe in and recieve Jesus Christ as your lord and Savior. Becoming a Christian, however, is far more than following a creed or trying to live by certain standards. Jesus said that you must be "Born Again," or more literally, "Born From Above" (John 3:3). This spiritual rebirth happens when we personally believe in Jesus Christ, recieve him by inviting him into our life, making the changes he deems necessary. A person must take this all-important step in order to become a child of God.
Notice that this offer is yours or the asking, and it's free. You don't have to work for it, trying to clean up your life before you make this life-changing decision. The Bible says, "The free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
Being a Christian also means having a relationship with the living God. In Revelation 3:20, Jesus said, "Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in and we will share as friends." To better understand the meaning of this verse, it is important to understand the culture at the time it was written. Eating together in the Bible times was a long, drawn out affair. People would not sit on chairs behind tables in a formal setting as we do, but they would ofteh sit on the gound, reclining on pillows around a low table. The relaxed atmosphere made meals a time when you would not only satisfy your appetite but also recieve a gratifying serving of enjoyable table conversation. You would share your heart and live with those who sat beside you.
Consequently, when Jesus says that he will "share a meal" with us, it implies intimacy, closeness, and friendship. He offers this to us, but we must first "hear him calling" us.
To hear God calling us, we must know how he speaks. One way God speaks to us is described on occasion as a "still, small voice." This could be described in another way as that tug you may have felt on your heart from the holy spirit showing you your need for Jesus. He may even be speaking to you right now! It is at that point that you must "open the door." Only you can do that. Jesus will not force his way in.
RECIEVING JESUS CHRIST INTO YOUR HEART
If you are ready to turn from your sins and believe in Jesus Christ so that you can recieve the forgiveness of sin and the hope of eternal life, then take a moment to bow your head and pray a prayer like this one right now:
God, I'm sorry for my sin. I turn from it right now. I thank you for sending Jesus Christ to die on the cross for my sin.
Jesus, I ask you to come into my heart and life right now. Be my Lord, Savior, and friend. Help me to follow you all he days of my life as your disciple.
Thank you for forgiving and receiving me right now. Thank you that my sin is forgiven and that I am going to heaven. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
REDEDICATING YOUR LIFE TO JESUS CHRIST
Perhaps you are already a Christian, but you have strayed form Jesus Christ. You have been a prodigal son or daughter. God will forgive you right now if you will return to him. He tells us in Scripture,"My wayward children, come back to me and I will heal your wayward hearts" (Jeremiah 3:22). If you would like to return to God and rededicate your life to him right now, you may want to pray something like this:
God, I am sorry for my sin. I am sorry that I have strayed form you. I ask you to forgive me now as I repent of my sin. I don't want to live like a prodigal any longer.
Renew me and revive me as I once again follow you as my God. Thank you for your forgiveness. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
If you have made a decision here today, then let me know, if you have questions write me at
