This is the most important question of your entire life. Everybody will meet God one day – when this life is over.
It is not a question of church membership or of living a good life, but this: Have you been born again by accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? If not, you are lost, and need to take advantage of God’s offer of salvation. You need to accept Christ now!
The Bible says that we are all sinners, without exception: “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10). It also tells us that because we are sinners we are condemned to die: “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
What does it mean to be a sinner condemned to die? It means separation from God and all that is good and pleasant for all eternity. How terrible!
God hates sin and rebellion, yet He loves us so much that He provided a way of escape for us. He gave His only Son Jesus Christ, who was sinless, to suffer and die for our sins as our Substitute: “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Does God offer salvation to everyone? The Bible says He does: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
There are no restrictions. God offers salvation to all – even you! The only thing you have to do is confess your sinfulness to God, and believe that “the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Then you will be saved!
Regardless of how much you have sinned, the Bible says God “will freely pardon” (Isaiah 55:7). Don’t waste your life gathering earthly things that won’t last long. Don’t let your social position or your friends keep you from accepting God’s way of salvation.
The Savior Himself asks you, “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36). Don’t depend on a religion, a church or a good life to save you. Jesus Christ alone is able to save you. “Salvation is found in no one else” (Acts 4:12).
Will you stop right now and receive Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? If you do, you will be prepared to meet God, and you will find that satisfying peace which only He can give.
Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Will you do it today?
Scriptures from The New International Version, ©1978, Int’l Bible Society. By permission.