Do You Know God ?
First, we must admit our spiritual need. We are all
sinners....people don't always like that title. The one word that
defines all sin is the Greek word "harmatia" which means "to miss the
mark." What is God's mark? Jesus said, "Be perfect as My Father in
heaven is perfect." Unless a person is perfect, he has missed the mark;
therefore, he is a sinner. Romans 3:23 states "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
What is the result of sin? In Romans 6:23 we read "The wages of sin is death..."
Every one of us has missed God's mark. Every one of us falls short of
being perfect. We are getting only what we deserve, and we are bringing
judgment upon ourselves. One thing we need to remember is that God
never sends anyone to hell. We send ourselves there by rejecting His
truth.
Since we can never measure up to God's standards on
our own, God has reached out to man. We cannot solve the problem of
sin, but God, who is perfect, can and has. He has become a bridge for
us. John 3:16-17 states "For God so loved the world that He gave
His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish
but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son to condemn the
world, but that the world through Him might be saved.." In Romans 5:8 we read, "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
If
a person acknowledges that he is a sinner, and he accepts the promise
that Christ is the solution, he is at a crossroads. Either the person
must reject God's solution and accept the consequences, or he must
accept Jesus Christ as his Savior. What must a person do to accept this
gift? Simply receive it! Matthew 11:28-30 states "Come to Me, all
you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My
yoke upon you and learn from Me...for My yoke is easy and My burden is
light."
His invitation is clear. We must come to Him. All that remains is a response. In Romans 6:23 we read "...the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." What do we have to do to receive that gift? Take it! Revelation 3:20 states "Behold
I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the
door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me." Jesus stands at the door of your heart and knocks, seeking entrance into our lives. John 1:12 states "For as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the children of God."
If you would like to receive Jesus Christ into your heart and life
right now, pray a prayer something like this from the sincerity of your
heart...
"Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe you died for my sins. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life. I receive you as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank you for saving me. Amen."
If you just prayed that prayer and really meant it, Jesus Christ has now taken residence in your heart! Not only that, but he has forgiven you of all your sin. The Bible tells us, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9) God also promises, "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." (Psalms 103:12)