This is the most important and eternally significant page in my Homestead. I am glad you are here.
I am a Virginian and a sports fan. I am an alumnus, a daughter, sister and friend. I am a teacher, a mentor and a missionary. But the label I will wear forever is CHRISTIAN. One who follows Christ. A Believer. A true child of God. A sinner saved by grace.
There is only one way to receive this label. It can't be earned or bestowed, bought or transferred. It is a FREE GIFT from God.
Here's the scoop:
We all have a serious problem: God is perfect and we're not. We have disrespected His plan and will for us. We are sinners and cannot be with a perfect and holy God in our current state.
All have sinned and fallen short of God's Glory.
Nobody's perfect, no, not one!
It's like an Olympic broad jumper and me trying to jump the Grand Canyon. One goes farther than the other, but we both fall into the chasm.
The penalty of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
God had to do something to save us because we can't save ourselves. We can't be good enough to earn our way to heaven. Our best is like filthy rags compared to God's holiness.
So . . .He sent His only Son, Jesus, to be born of a virgin, in a stable in Bethlehem. He lived a totally human, yet totally perfect life. He spent His adulthood showing people the Truth of God's Kingdom. He taught by model and word - it's recorded in the 4 Gospels - 4 different witnesses to the life of Christ. Then He willingly died a criminal's death on the cross, taking upon Himself the sins of all humanity - past, present, and future.
When He cried out that God had abandoned Him - it was true! For the first time in all eternity, God the Father couldn't stand to look on God the Son because He had become sin for us. He paid the price for us! He died in our place! A substitute for you and me!
Wow! That kind of love is unimaginable and unknowable (this side of heaven) Even Saint Paul prayed: I pray that you will know His love, even though it can't be fully known.
But how does all this save us? I'm glad you asked!
If you know this and believe this in your head - great! But it's not enough. The Devil knows all this too. Knowing the Truth is a start, but just knowing won't get you to heaven. It's like missing out on heaven by 12 inches - the distance between our head and heart.
We must respond and invite Christ to live in our heart, to clean us up, to be our Lord. There is an invitation that must be given.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and have fellowship with him and he with me.
Jesus will not force His way into our lives. He waits for us to respond by faith and invite Him to come in to our hearts.
Here's the process:
1) I am dirty with sin.
2) I know that Jesus is the only way to get "cleaned up"
3) I invite Him to come into my life and ask Him to forgive me and cleanse me.
4) I give my life to Him to be Lord (Master, Boss, Head-honcho) of my life.
5) I want to live life God's way and
6) I ask Him to help me do it. (We can't do it by ourselves, any way)
If you believe this and want Him to come into your heart - then tell Him so. The Holy Spirit will make His home in your heart and help you understand spiritual truth. He'll give you strength and courage to do things His way. You will not have to clean up your own act. You're not "turning over a new leaf" You're getting a BRAND NEW LEAF!
If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things are passed away, behold all things are new.
You are given a brand new life. (Eternal life)
You are given a new nature. (Christ's nature)
You are given a Helper and Comforter (the Holy Spirit)
You are the heir to all of God's promises (One of which is that
He will never leave you or abandon you)
You become a member of a family (The Body of Christ - the Church)
You will go to heaven forever when your life on earth is over.
If you have questions, if you've invited Jesus to come into your life, if you need someone to pray with or for you . . .PLEASE LET ME KNOW!
This message is why I live how I live and do what I do. I'd rather chat about this than about any other subject! Nothing is more important.
