Having Everlasting Life

WHEN IT COMES TO THE LOVE OF GOD, SHOWN TO US THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS ONCE SAID, "I SAW A RIVER OVER WHICH EVERY SOUL MUST PASS TO REACH THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, AND THE NAME OF THE RIVER WAS SUFFERING¡KAND I SAW THE BOAT WHICH CARRIES SOULS ACROSS THAT RIVER, AND THE NAME OF THE BOAT WAS LOVE."

AS JOSEPH LEARNED OF MARY’S PREGNANCY AND WAS TAUGHT THROUGH HIS DREAM IN MATTHEW 1:21, WE LEARN A VALUABLE LESSON THAT EVER SINCE CHRIST STEPPED FROM HEAVEN IT WAS GOD’S LOVE THAT REACHED OUT TO SAVE US. "SHE WILL BEAR A SON, AND YOU ARE TO NAME HIM JESUS, FOR HE WILL SAVE HIS PEOPLE FROM THEIR SINS."

WE NEED TO BE SAVED FROM OUR SINFULNESS BECAUSE IT IS THAT VERY SIN IN OUR LIVES THAT IS KEEPING US FROM HAVING A PROPER, LOVING, INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. ROMANS 3:23, "FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD."

UNLESS WE DEAL WITH THE SIN IN OUR LIVES WE WILL ALWAYS BE SPIRITUALLY SEPARATED FROM GOD. EVEN DESPITE THE FACT THAT WE MAY BE PEOPLE KNOWN AS "RELIGIOUS" BECAUSE WE GO TO CHURCH OR CREDITED WITH BEING KIND, LOVING, AND CARING, WE WILL STILL BE "LOST" IF WE HAVE NOT ACCEPTED CHRIST INTO OUR LIVES AS LORD AND SAVIOR.

SIMPLY PUT: YOU CANNOT BYPASS JESUS CHRIST BY JUST DOING GOOD AND BEING GOOD. SALVATION DOESN’T COME SIMPLY BECAUSE WE JOINED THE CHURCH, WAS BAPTIZED, OR COMPLETED A CONFIRMATION CLASS.

WE RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE BY JUST ONE WAY. JOHN 14:6, JESUS SAID, "I AM THE WAY, AND THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME."

WE MUST ACCEPT WHERE WE STAND IN REGARDS TO OUR SINFULNESS AND THAT WE DO NOT HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO SAVE OURSELVES FROM SIN. WE MUST ACCEPT THE FACT THAT JESUS CHRIST IS GOD’S ONLY PROVISION TO CARE FOR OUR SINFULNESS.

THE BEAUTY OF THIS TRUTH IS THAT IT IS NOT A CONCEITED DISPLAY OF ARROGANCE FOR GOD TO MAKE HIS SON JESUS THE ONE AND ONLY WAY TO HIMSELF. RATHER IT IS A SUPREME AND GLORIOUS DEMONSTRATION OF GOD’S HOLY LOVE FOR HIS PEOPLE. ROMANS 5:8, "BUT GOD DEMONSTRATES HIS OWN LOVE TOWARD US, IN THAT WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US." GOD DID WHAT WE COULD NOT DO FOR OURSELVES WHICH IS TO PAY THE PENALTY THAT SIN REQUIRES.

GOD PAID OUR DEBTS THROUGH THE SHEDDING OF HIS ONLY SON’S PRECIOUS BLOOD. GOD PAID THE PRICE IN FULL WITHOUT REQUIRING US TO REIMBURSE HIM IN ANY WAY.

BECAUSE OF GOD’S AGAPE, UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FOR US, HE DID WHAT WAS NEEDED IN ORDER TO MAKE HAVING A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM POSSIBLE.

JOHN 3:16, "FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD [US], THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE." ALSO IN JOHN 10:10, WE ARE REMINDED THAT CHRIST SAID, "I CAME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE, AND MIGHT HAVE IT ABUNDANTLY."

GOD WANTS US TO KNOW THAT HE CREATED US TO HAVE A MEANINGFUL AND VIBRANT LIFE ON EARTH THAT IS FULFILLING AND MEANINGFUL. GOD WANTS US TO KNOW THAT HE WANTS THAT FULFILLED, MEANINGFUL LIFE TO CONTINUE ON INTO ETERNITY WITH HIM IN HEAVEN.

GOD WANTS US TO KNOW THAT HE LOVES US AND HAS ORDAINED A WONDERFUL PLAN FOR OUR LIVES. IN OTHER WORDS, KNOW THAT GOD HAS CREATED US ON PURPOSE FOR A SPECIFIC PURPOSE IN LIFE.

THIS IS WHY WE NEED JESUS CHRIST TO BE THE LORD AND SAVIOR OF OUR LIVES. THIS IS WHY WE NEED TO LITERALLY ASK JESUS CHRIST TO COME INTO OUR LIVES TO FORGIVE OUR SINS AND TO BRING US BACK INTO A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD SO WE CAN FULFILL GOD’S PLAN AND WILL FOR OUR LIVES.

REVELATION 3:20, "HERE I AM [JESUS SAID]! I STAND AT THE DOOR [OF YOUR HEART] AND KNOCK. IF ANYONE HEARS MY VOICE AND OPENS THE DOOR, I WILL COME IN AND EAT WITH THEM, AND THEY WITH ME." CHRIST NOT ONLY REDEEMS US, BUT PERSONALLY OFFERS THE INVITATION TO ACCEPT HIS GIFT OF SALVATION.

TO SAY IT ANOTHER WAY, WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US THROUGH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST IS A FREE GIFT EXTENDED TO US. GIFTS ARE NOT PURCHASED BY, WORKED FOR, OR REIMBURSED BY THE ONE RECEIVING THE GIFT.

THE GIFT OF SALVATION IN CHRIST IS AN OFFERING OF GOD’S GRACE TO THOSE WHO, IN FAITH, WILL JUST REACH OUT AND RECEIVE IT INTO THEIR LIVES. EPHESIANS 2:8-9, "FOR IT IS BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED, THROUGH FAITH -- AD THIS NOT FROM YOURSELVES, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD -- NOT BY WORKS, SO THAT NO ONE CAN BOAST." SALVATION CANNOT BE YOURS UNTIL YOU MAKE THE CONSCIOUS DECISION TO ACCEPT IT AND MAKE IT YOURS.