Most people have a strong desire to improve this world and their own lives. Why? Because deep down they know that the world is not as it should be. It's still broken in many ways, and so are we. We're all part of the story of redemption and healing that God has been writing since the beginning of Creation.

CREATED FOR LIFE

God created us for life to the fullest. To know him personally, with nothing coming between. Never hurting others or being hurt. To enjoy the perfect world he made for us. To be alive with joy, purpose and meaning every day.

“Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person” (Genesis 2:7).

SEPARATED FROM LIFE

But the first human beings turned their backs on God and the amazing life he was offering. That’s how death, pain, evil and loneliness came into the world. With one rebellious choice, we severed our relationship with God long ago.

“No fair,” we might say.

But we’re all sinners. Deep down, we know we do the same thing: we like to put ourselves first, choose our own way over God’s.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

RESTORED FOR LIFE

Only Jesus can bring us back to life. On the cross, he paid full price for all our rebellion and defeated evil. Then he proved he truly was the Son of God by coming back to life. Now he offers full, true life to anyone who’s willing to trust in him and in what he did for us.

It’s a free gift, that costs us nothing but our pride. We’re saved when we stop trying to save ourselves and instead trust Jesus enough to give him everything.

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10b).

“But it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10).

CHOOSE LIFE

You have a choice. From this point on your life can go in one of two directions:

Stay in charge of your life, separated from the wonderful life Jesus is offering you.

OR

Give your life to Jesus and discover a relationship with God that starts to change you from the inside out. You’ll know purpose and meaning and experience the joy of being forgiven. You’ll start to find healing from your past and learn how to really love. You’ll be fully alive.

HOW TO CHOOSE THAT LIFE

Acknowledge that you have sinned — that you’ve chosen to live your own way and that you’ve hurt others.
Thank Jesus for paying the penalty for all that sin by dying on the cross for you.
Believe that Jesus rose from the dead to offer you new life.
Ask Jesus to take control of your life so you can live life his way from now on.

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).

Here’s a suggested prayer to help you entrust your life to Jesus:

“God, I’ve done life my way for way too long. I believe that Jesus died to free me from my selfishness. Please forgive my sins. Thank you that Jesus didn’t stay dead. You raised him to life. Thank you for the free gift of new life with you. My life is now yours. Please help me live your way. Amen.”

Please let us know if you've just chosen to follow Jesus. If you fill in the form below, a mentor will connect with you soon to answer your questions and pray with you.

This article was written by: Issues I Face