Salvation,Sacrifice,Eternal Reward.
by C D Swanson~
“How can I find meaning and purpose in life?” is a common question and one so many have contemplated. What is life all about–and how does it relate to God, us and eternity?
When God said, “Let us make man in our image” (Gen 1:26) He created men and women to place here on earth…but for what purpose?
God truly loved what He created, it is said, “He looked and it was good” — and He wants us to enjoy Him as much as He enjoys us..to get to know Him and fellowship with Him daily.
He wanted us to live in complete harmony with Him , and He wanted us to be happy then, as He does now. Unfortunately, in earlier times, the first humans turned from God and arbitrarily went in their own ways. Thereby severing the ties of fellowship with Him. So, people now are born with a sinful nature…and without any exception, all of us have sinned. (Romans 3:23) As a result we were separated from God because of those sins for earlier times.
But, out of His deep love and mercy, He decided to rescue us from that “ugly sin.” He brought Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, and sacrificed Him for our sake. Christ took on the sin of the world, and was punished for us in order to provide salvation. He died for us, and resurrected, thereby defeating death for us…to give us a chance at eternal life. It was completed and done at the CROSS where Jesus established His power over death.
So, Jesus more than sufficiently paid the debt by becoming our Kinsman Redeemer…and in so doing, we are called to a higher purpose to turn from sin, rebellious behavior, and to trust in what He has done for us.
God does makes it abundantly clear concerning our salvation in Mark 1:15 Jesus our Savior said, “Repent yet, and believe in the gospel.” By repenting, which is to say, “turn in a different direction” and giving up on sin, and turning from worldly consumption, we attempt to make things right with and before God.
We also must believe. So, we must trust, repent, and believe in the One who paid the ultimate price for us.
How will we respond? Well the Bible is filled with so many passages and messages as to the direction and temperance in which we should display and follow, but one of the scriptures that pops out just now is this: “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord” will be rescued/saved.” (Romans 10:13)
If you’ve not trusted in Christ as Lord and Savior it’s never too late to turn from sin and believe in Him. Who alone can save and give new and eternal life? There is only One way to get to eternity, and that is through the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)
Picture of God’s landscape captured by Christiane O.