The world we live in is not the world God created. When God finished creation everything was good. (Genesis 1:31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good) So why is the world in the mess it is today? Because of sin!
In the Garden of Eden, man wanted his own way and decided to disobey God. Disobedience to God is sin and causes man to be separated from God (Ephesians 5:5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.). This separation occurred because God is perfect in all his ways and sin is the failure of perfection. Because of sin even the world we live in is cursed. (Genesis 3:17-18 Then to Adam He said, "Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, `You shall not eat of it': "Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field). Not only are we separated from God, but without God's help we have no hope after this life except to be forever separated from our Maker (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 ...on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power).
Everybody has sinned in their life (Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God). There is nothing we can do on our own to earn God's love and salvation from our sad situation. The penalty for our sin is greater than we can pay ourselves. (Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord)
Because God loves those whom He created, He provided a way to restore the broken relationship (John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life). He sent Jesus(2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him). He paid the penalty that we couldn't pay on our own. He then rose from the grave showing that He had the power to forgive us of our sins (Romans 4:25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification). (Who Himself was God) from heaven to die in our place.
Through Jesus, God provided a way for us to restore our relationship with our Creator. It is as simple as ABC
A - Admit that you are a sinner
B - Believe that Jesus died for your sins
C - Confess your sins and Commit your life to living for God.(Romans 10:9-10 If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.)
This can be accomplished by a simple prayer like this example;
"Dear God, I know that I am a sinner. Please forgive me of my sins. I believe that Jesus came to die in my place for the sins that I have done. I now put my trust in Him for my salvation and I commit my life to you and will follow you the rest of my life. Thank you for forgiving me. Please come into my life and help me to walk with you every day."
So, you may ask, What's in it for me?
Joy. Joy in knowing that you have a home in Heaven to look forward to, not seperation forever from God.
Love. Love from a Creator who knows more about you than you know of yourself, and unlimited resources from Him to deal with day to day living.
Peace. Peace in knowing that you no longer need to deal with the guilt and burdens that come from sin. Freedom from the fears and misery of life that can bring darkness and spiritual pain.
A fresh start in life; a chance to start a new journey, with God alongside!
