Life with God
Life is journey and nothing about it is easy
Fear. Anxiety. Depression. Worries. Failures. We all have experienced the problems of life’s journey in one way or another. Some paths we choose to go down on our own, while others are forced upon us. Nevertheless, how we deal with the paths in our journey is what makes us different. Many have been crippled in some way by things like drug or alcohol addiction, pornography, eating disorders, pride, even suicide. You may not be struggling with these exact things, but chances are something in your life has taken over journey. We need to be set free, but just cannot seem to do it alone.
The journey is not meant to be traveled alone
None of us is designed to make the journey of life alone. We are all designed to live our lives in relationship with God. The bad news is that we all begin our journey separated from God. The causes of this separation are the bad things we do (sin).
The Bible talks about it this way:
"For all have sinned; all fall short of God's glorious standard" (Romans 3:23).
When the Bible says, "all have sinned; all fall short," it means that, in our thoughts, words, and actions, none of us have lived up to God's standard of perfection. And our sin not only causes us to be separated from God, but it also earns us a penalty of death.
The Bible talks about it this way:
"For the wages of sin is death . . ." (Romans 6:23).
. . . I [God] do not leave sins unpunished (Exodus 34:7).
To make matters worse, we cannot, by our own efforts, escape God's judgment or pay the penalty for our sin. No amount of personal effort, good works, or religious deeds can earn us a right relationship with God. We have all chosen the path of sin separating us from God. The truth is, we live life to satisfy ourselves. “I am Number One” is how we live. We look for the path that will satisfy our desires. Yet, the problem is that once we are on the path to achieve or accomplish the things we thought would bring us happiness, we find ourselves as empty as before. It seems to never be enough. Why? Because the emptiness we feel is spiritual, not just physical, or emotional.
Getting back on track
The good news is that God doesn’t want us to remain separated from Him. And since there is no way we can be perfect or pay the penalty for our sin, God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to take the punishment for us. God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to show us the path that takes us to God. Jesus died to pay for the bad things we do (our sins) overcoming the separation that existed between man and God.
The Bible says:
"But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners" (Romans 5:8).
Because He died to pay for our sins, we can have freedom and a right standing relationship with God.
The Bible says:
"We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD [God] laid on Him [Jesus] the guilt and sins of us all” (Isaiah 53:6).
Recognize God’s path
This is what He did for you.
Jesus died to pay the penalty in full for our sins. Yesterday, today and forever. He was buried in a tomb and raised from the dead with power over sin. He offers all of us the gift of eternal life. All you have to do is accept that gift. Surrender and put your trust in Jesus as the One who paid for your sins.
The Bible talks about it this way:
"God saved you by His special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it" (Ephesians 2:8-9).
"Jesus said . . . 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me'" (John 14:6).
Through Christ, we have the opportunity to enjoy an intimate, personal relationship with God. But we must respond to the offer God has made to us. We respond by deciding to trust in Christ alone to restore our relationship with God.
Respond to God
Decide that you need Him.
If you believe these things, tell God. You can pray something like this. “God, thank You for loving me. I know I have sinned against You. I believe that Jesus, God’s one and only Son, died to pay for my sins. I believe that You raised Jesus from the dead. I now put my trust only in Jesus to forgive me for my sins. Help me put Jesus first. Thank you for your gift of eternal life. Amen.”
If you have chosen to trust in Christ, you have started a relationship with God that will continue forever.
Need more Evidence?
Staying on the path of growth
If you have made the decision to follow Christ, we would love to hear about it and become a resource for you. Please give us a call at 972.547.7000, or contact us online.
If you are seeking a local church to attend, you are welcome to visit Christ Fellowship. If your journey is rough right now and you need help, we can offer assistance. We would love to come alongside you and help lighten the load.
Jesus calls us to give our all, our very lives, to him in faith and obedience. He instructed those who accept his call to be baptized. Immersion in water – baptism – is a sacred occasion in the life of every Christ follower.
Once you have made the decision to follow Christ, you will want to tell others about your journey and grow in your relationship with Him.