Let's say that you were to die tonight and face God and He were to say to you, "Why should I let you into my heaven?" What would your answer be?  

    Perhaps, like many others, you would answer, "I've lived a good life; I haven't hurt anybody;  I've tried to obey the Ten Commandments" and so forth.  Well, I've got great news for you.  It's much easier than that to have eternal life.  You see, heaven is a free gift.  Romans 3:23 says, "The wages of sin is death, but the GIFT of God is eternal life."  That's right, it's a gift.  And just like any other gift it must be taken freely.  It cannot be earned; otherwise it would just be a good deal.
 

  It's important to realize that all humans are sinners.  Romans 6:23 says, "All have sinned and fallen short."  That's you; that's me; that's everyone.  Sin is anything that fails to reflect the character and attributes of God – ugly thoughts against others was compared to murder in Matthew 5, and lust to adultery.  Do you see how the things that we do are serious in the eyes of God?

    Likely in Bible school you were taught 1 John 4:8, "God is love."  It's absolutely true.  God loves you as His child and would not that you should perish in Hell. 

   It is equally true, however, as it says in Exodus 34:7, that "He (God) does not leave the guilty unpunished."  God is bound by His nature to punish sin and will not allow even one sin into His presence.  What to do?  We are sinners.  God loves us.  God does not tolerate any sin.

  God answered this problem through Jesus Christ.  Perhaps you didn't know it, but Jesus is the infinite God/Man.  John 1:14 teaches us that Jesus Christ was the "Word," and John 1:1 says, "In the beginning was the Word (Jesus) and the Word was with God, and the Word (Jesus) was God."  John 1:14 Goes on to tell us that "the Word became flesh and dwelled among us."
   
   Why?  Why did Jesus Christ come to dwell among men?  Isaiah 56:3 gives us the reason. It says, "All like sheep have gone astray.  Each has turned to his own way, but the Lord has laid the iniquity of us all upon Him."  What this says is that all of us have turned from God and sinned, but that God was pleased to place the guilt of sin upon Himself, in the form of Christ, and that Christ came to bear the burden of our sins before a righteous and holy God who must punish sin.

   How can you have eternal life?

   Well, first, eternal life isn't just knowing about God or believing in God. James 2:19 tells us that even the demons believe in God -- and they shudder.  The demons believe IN God, but they don't have eternal life. Instead they have eternal death.

   So, saving faith is not simply believing in God, and certainly not believing in any old God.  Saving faith is placing your trust in the risen and living Christ.  It means accepting that the only way to have eternal life is through God's grace and mercy shown through Christ's death for your sins.  You must recognize and repent of the fact that previously you have been trusting in your self for salvation - your good deeds, your righteous living, even your acknowledgment that a God exists.  Finally, it means that you must give Christ His proper place on the throne of your heart, and allow Him to be Lord and Master over your life.

    If you find that you have been trusting in your self for salvation and you would like to allow Christ to provide you with eternal life, if you are tired of trying to earn your way into heaven and want to gain heaven right now without the risks of, "Was I good enough?"  If you are ready to give up trying to control your own life and are ready to allow the One who created all things, set them into motion, and continues to, "work all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called to His purposes" (Romans 8:28), come in and control your life, then I invite you, right now, to pray the following prayer, to accept Christ into your heart and receive His gift of eternal life.

Prayer:

   Lord Jesus, I confess that before I have sought to save myself rather than trusting you for this incredible task.  I know that there is no way that I could ever do anything that would make me righteous before you. I know that I am a sinner and deserve your wrath, but I also know that you love me and do not wish to punish me.   So, I thank you, God, for sending your Son, Jesus Christ, who is the infinite God/man for the express purpose of bearing the guilt of my sins so that I may be freed from them.  God, I accept that Christ died for my sins, and thank you for this.  God, I accept the free gift of eternal life that comes from trusting in Jesus Christ's death for my sins and trusting Him as Lord over my life.  I give control of my life to you God.  Thank you again, God, for this wondrous gift of eternal life which, you have given to me.  Amen.

   If you have prayed this prayer, we would like to hear from you.  Please contact us at (205) 451-5433 and let us be the first to welcome you to the family of God, to thank Him for His wonderful work, and help get you started in your new life.  

   In His name,

   The Board