Happy Easter Weekend!
Never forget how much Jesus loves you and what He went through for you, for everyone, so that anyone who believes in Him would be saved (and anyone can!):
There are many people who resist God because they doubt He exists: "If God is real, then why doesn't He prove He's real?"
Well, He did ... it's called Creation.
"Oh, that's just evolution. It's nature," they say. "But if He's really real, why doesn't He send us a clear message, in black-and-white?"
He did ... it's called the Bible.
"No, no, that was just written by men. An interesting old book, but nothing more. But if He's really, really real, then why doesn't He come down here and show Himself to us physically? Why doesn't He come show us how much He loves us? Then we'd really believe!"
Once again, He did ... and His name is Jesus ... and He died so that we could live ... and they still don't believe.
How much more will it take?
Romans 1:18-21,28,2:5: “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened...
Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind...
But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed."
The most important truths you'll ever learn are that God loves you, that Jesus died for you, that He rose again to prove He's God and defeat Satan and conquer death, and that He wants you to believe in Him as your Lord and Savior so that you can be saved.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
“God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
"He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:2)
“… 'Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the whole world.'” (John 1:29)
"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people.'" (Luke 2:10)
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it [eternal life] is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
"... Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31)
Believe and be saved. It's that simple. It's that easy. And anyone can do it.
And do you know why God made it so simple and free?
Because He already did all the work for us. He paid the price for our sins (death) so that we don't have to, because He loves us and wants us with Him in heaven. He calls out to us all, pursues us, meets us in our messes, knocks on the door of our hearts, and pleads with us to let Him in, to accept the free gift of eternal life He offers us all. The free gift that cost Him His life, His blood.
And all we have to do - all we can do - is accept it, opening our hearts and humbly receiving the free gifts He offers us all: love, hope, healing, grace, mercy, forgiveness, freedom, peace, joy, salvation, eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
“For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already ...” (John 3:16-18)
“if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved... ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” (Romans 10:9,13)
[Cleaning up our lives comes after coming to Jesus. And it'll be a life-long journey. So you don't have to clean yourself up first before coming to Jesus because He will meet you right where you are, right in your mess, if only you'll call out to Him and turn to Him in faith.
He's not afraid of our messes. He's not "too good" to touch our messes. In fact, He left heaven so that He could come right down into our messy world because it was the only way to save us from it.
So don't worry about the condition your life is in right now. Just turn to Him. Reach for Him. Stop resisting Him. He will meet you wherever you are... so that He can rescue you from it and take you to where He wants you to be.]
Here are two short videos on how to make Jesus your Lord and Savior (if you haven't already):
We all put our faith in something. We all stake our souls on something.
What are you putting your faith in and staking your soul on?
Where will you end up because of it?
(Are you ready to find out?)
"So if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve ... But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord!" (Joshua 24:15)
Not so sure about the resurrection of Jesus?
Watch this documentary from another skeptic who tried to disprove Jesus but ended up believing in Him instead: The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel (70 minutes long)... and see what you think.
Or read the book or watch the movie by the same name.
Or maybe you'll like one of my all-time-favorite Christian movies: Do You Believe? It's the movie I watch again and again when I need some hope and encouragement because it shows that no one is hopeless, no one is beyond God's grace, mercy, or reach. No one!
Have a happy, fun, blessed Easter, full of candy, bunnies, and Easter egg hunts. But don't forget what Easter is really about - because candy, bunnies, and egg hunts can't save or heal your soul.
Only Jesus can!
So what do you say?
Are you ready to come on down to the "Living Water" (a great song by Anne Wilson, from another favorite movie: Jesus Revolution) and be saved, forgiven, healed, set free?
[Also, if you're interested, see my posts:
Support for Jesus and the Bible
Why I could never be an atheist!
A little girl's nonsensical sign
An overview of world religions
Starting the new school year with Creation vs. Evolution
More creation videos we watched
