„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 NIV)
God is good.
This truth changes everything as soon as we grasp it and embrace it with all our heart.
He created the world perfectly, but mankind turned away from Him. It started to listen to the liar and deceiver and began to mistrust the goodness of the heavenly Father.
This is the core of all evil in the world and even in us. We all had turned away from God and walked our own ways which, however, did not bring us true life and peace - which are found only in HIM.
Some of us have tried to fill this emptiness with religion, but religion cannot save us!
All our own attempts to climb up the latter of holiness and to redeem ourselves by good deeds are doomed to fail from the beginning! And the sooner we realize this, the better!
God, however, has given us a better way: He knew we would not make it by ourselves.
Therefore, He sent His son, Who was the only one without sin and thus able to intercede for us all in front of God. He took the righteous punishment for our guilt on Himself by letting Himself be crucified. He was the only perfect sacrifice which was necessary so that we could be acquitted of all sin, which is separating us from God.
Yet, He didn't remain in the grave, but rose from the dead and IS ALIVE! He went up to heaven, from where He will return to judge the earth and to establish God's kingdom.
Still, He didn't leave His people alone since then. He sent the Holy Spirit, through Whom God Himself comes to dwell in us, completely renews us, heals us and leads us into what has always been His highest purpose and goal: THE LIVING RELATIONSHIP WITH US! Eternal life in intimate fellowship with HIM.
And yes, this is the good news! That everyone of us now can embrace all of what Jesus did for us, by trustfully saying yes to Him and His leadership in our life. By confessing our guilt in front of Him and turning away from it in His empowerment. By putting our EGO down from the throne of our life and setting HIM on it, since we know that His intentions for us are even way better! By letting us be baptized, drowning and dying to the old man, to rise as a new man who stands in covenant with Jesus. By receiving His Holy Spirit, by Whom only we can really know God, perceive His speaking and obtain certainty of our salvation. Who changes us in the very core, produces the character of Jesus in us and makes us more like Him. Who only brings to life for us the great treasure of God's word in reading the bible. Who empowers us to concretely follow Jesus and to do the things He did, since HE is the one living in us!
All of us are called to make a decision where we want to spend eternity, since our spirit and our soul are immortal! A live without Jesus leads to the result that our decision will be sealed at some point and we will be separated from God forever, when He and His kingdom will be revealed; that we will be found guilty on the day of judgement by a Holy God, Who will then have no choice but to abandon us to the place which makes up His absence: An eternal hell.
Our decision to turn away from former unbelief and rebellion against Him, however, lets us come home to a loving Father Who shows us His overflowing mercy and compassion in Jesus. Who held back nothing to bring us back to Him, to ultimately raise us up with Messiah and to let us be with Him in His glory for all eternity.
If You have not yet taken this most important step of Your life decisively, but want to do it now, then plainly come to Jesus trustfully and give Him Your yes.
Ask Him that He would reveal Himself to You; at the same time give Him also trust in advance by opening Yourself to Him. For God does not only desire a little bit of pious practice from You, but wants to transform You in the depth of Your heart. This, however, is only possible when You surrender Yourself to Him; when You confess in humility that You are in total need of Him and His undeserved mercy! Bring all Your guilt to light before Him openly and ask for His forgiveness. Ask for strength to repent and a new beginning with Him. Pray, coming out of Your own heart, similarly to this example:
Lord Jesus Christ,
I accept You as my personal redeemer.
I thank You that You have paid the price for my sins and that You forgive me.
I praise You for that!
Please fill me now with Your Holy Spirit and from now on be lord and leader in my life!