The Bible calls the history of Jesus on earth and His mission here the “Gospel”. That word Gospel means the Good News. What I am about to share with you is good news for you. There are 5 simple things that God wants you to realize.
Before you continue reading let me ask you four important questions!
1. He wants you to realize that He loves you passionately like a father would his little child.
In the Bible, we learn that, “Father God loved people so much that he sent his only Son into the middle of this broken world to rescue every one who is willing to follow him. He wants everyone to know that in spite of their actions He didn’t send Jesus here to condemn us but rather to rescue us and give us eternal life with Him.” (John .3:16-17). God is offering to transform your life and give you new meaning, peace and fulfillment. He is ready to revolutionize your life for no other reason than because He loves you just as you are. Some people think that they have to get better on their own before God can love them. The opposite is true, God already loves us just as we are, and He is our only hope to get better. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8 NKJ). God loves you personally, passionately and unconditionally.
2. He wants you to realize that there is something in you that separates you from Him.
Every human being is created in the image of God, yet at the same time we each have a heart that wants to be independent. One Old Testament prophet described it like this, “Everyone of us are like a sheep that has gone astray from God; we have turned, every one, to her or his own way”…(Isaiah 53:5). Consequently, because of broken, sinful human nature every person is born with the need to turn to God. “Therefore, as through one man’s (Adam) offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s (Jesus) righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.”(Romans 5:18-19 NKJ). Because our hearts and actions are sinful, (independent from God) it is impossible for any human to be in right relationship with God by their on ability or efforts. It is not about being nice people, it is about having a personal relationship with the creator God. We must acknowledge that we are sinners and that we need God. Sinners are people who have not surrendered control of their lives to Jesus Christ. The final out come of refusing to surrender our lives to Jesus is eternal death. “For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23a).
3. He wants you to realize that Jesus is the one the Father sent to rescue you from your sin.
Jesus said about Himself, “I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, … and I lay down My life or the sheep…My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. … And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; … My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand” (John 10:14-15, 27-29). The Bible also says, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, …” (1 Peter 3:18). One of the earliest Christian sermons preserved in the Bible states; “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12 RSV). Jesus is the One, if you will turn to Him, who can forgive you, change you, and set you free from anything. Jesus described His personal mission on earth like this:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim pardon for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the age of God’s favor to all who turn to him.” (Luke 4:18-19)
4. He wants you to realize that you need to surrender control of your life to Jesus.
There is only one way to be reconciled to God, and that is to turn from your own way of living and give the control of your life over to Jesus. The Bible calls this act of surrendering, repentance. “Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; (Acts 2:38; 3:19 NAS).
Real Christianity is not adding Jesus to your life but giving your life to Him to lead and control. It is coming to the place of trusting God that He knows what is best for your life. It is believing that he wants to bless you. He said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10 NKJ). Implicit in this surrender is also the acknowledgement that we are powerless to save ourselves, and that it is an act of mercy and grace on Gods part. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus…” (Ephesians 2:8-10 NKJ). First you must you must realize that you can do absolutely nothing to save yourself. Then you must put your trust—faith in Jesus as the only one who can spiritually transformation you. Next you must call out to God and ask for His forgiveness and declare your surrender to Him.
5. He wants you to realize that now is the best time to surrender your life to Jesus.
Procrastination is a big problem for many people. Often, things that people sincerely intend to do later never get done. If what you put off is washing the car or cleaning house, not much harm done. Other things however, sometimes have a bigger effect that snowballs as time goes on. This is one of those big items that putting off will impact your life in many ways over the years. This is in fact, the biggest decision of your life, to put this decision off will have consequences that last for ever. Listen to what happened in one person’s life when he had the opportunity to receive Jesus; “After some days Felix came… and he sent for Paul and heard him speak upon faith in Christ Jesus. And as he strongly presented the Christian message, Felix was frightened and said, “Go away for now; when it is more convenient I will listen to you.” (Acts 24:25). Life is uncertain, no one knows what the future holds but we know that when we die we must face the consequences of how we lived, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 10:27 NKJ). Why spend the rest of your life going the wrong way when you can have peace with God now as well as having a new purpose for living. Pray now, put your faith in Jesus and invite Him to take control of your life. Here is an example of what you can say to God:
Dear God, I am asking you to come into my life and take control. I admit to you that I am a sinner and that up till now I have wanted to control my own life. Please forgive me for living my life independently from you. I want you to come into my life and be my leader, yes even my Lord. I know that it was your Father heart that sent Jesus to die for me and to take all of my sin upon Himself
