The Gospel

All of us yearn for a certain relationship -- the kind that doesn't let us down. We've been missing it all our lives, and yet something tells us that kind of relationship exists, and we're supposed to have it. So we try to find it in a best friend, a parent, a boyfriend or girlfriend. Others look for it in a husband or wife, a close family, or children of our own. But every relationship leaves us with this hole in our hearts where "someone is missing." In fact, someone is missing. Our Creator is missing. What the Bible says about this "Someone" who is missing can be summed up in just four points.          

1. There’s a relationship you’re created to have. "All things were created by Him and for Him" (Colossians 1:16b). See, that's why you're here. You were created by Jesus Christ and for Jesus Christ. You will have a hole in your heart until you belong to Him. God loves you very much, and He wants to be in a close love relationship with you.          

2. It’s a relationship you don’t have because of what you’ve done. "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you" (Isaiah 59:2a). Most of us know there's something between us and God. The Bible calls that something "sin," and the price for sin is death (Romans 6:23). Death means a separation from God, both now and forever. The only way a death penalty can be paid is for someone to die.  

3. It’s a relationship you can have because of what Jesus did. "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God" (1 Peter 3:18a). God loves you so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty for the sin in your life. The amazing thing is that even though you did the sinning, Jesus did the dying. He took your place! Three days later, He arose from the grave.          

4. It’s a relationship you must choose. "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out" (Acts 3:19a). You see, there's no such thing as a one-way love relationship. God did His part when His Son died for you. Now it's your move. Why not talk to God right now. Let Him know that you are willing to put a self-run life behind you, and that you are trusting in Jesus' death to really enable you to live in loving relationship with God forever: "Lord, I've been running my own life, but I resign as of today. I was made by You and I was made for You, but I've been living for me. I'm sorry for that self-rule You call sin. But I believe Your Son Jesus Christ paid my death penalty when He died on the cross. And right now I am turning from a life of 'my way' and I am putting all my trust in Jesus Christ to erase my sin from Your book, to give me a relationship with You, and to get me to heaven. Lord, from today on, I'm Yours."