The choice gift

Oh, what a gift. The other day I was driving and had to stop when I saw this church sign.

This message- Jesus, our choicest gift from God

 Let me explain what the message of this sign means to me. God, in His infinite wisdom and love, sent a special gift to us, Jesus. Mankind needed Jesus in order to save us from the penalty of sin, which is death. Let me qualify 'death'. There are two deaths- physical and spiritual.  God created man with a spirit which will live forever.  Spiritual death is the forever separation from the goodness of God in the horrible Lake of Fire, where your spirit will forever reside. Let me qualify 'spirit'. Your spirit existing outside the presence of God will experience death forever since your spirit will exist forever.  This spiritual death will be nothing like physical death, for it will be an ongoing death.  For only God is good, God is love. There is non other. God created man for us to commune with Him.  So if you're banished from God's presence, this will be eternal spiritual death. Spiritual death is something we can't compare right now for we are still existing in our fleshly bodies and Jesus hasn't returned. Your spirit will live forever with God in heaven, or without God in the Lake of Fire.  God has given you the freedom to make your choice.

God has provided the most important thing we need for our eternal future, and that's Jesus. With Jesus you have God's very best goodness now and forever. God, in His love and mercy has spared us from what we deserve because He wants no one to perish to hell and ultimately the Lake of Fire.  Accepting Jesus is God's way to spare you from sin's dark penalty. When you ask Jesus into your heart and accept Him as your Lord and Savior, you're spirit is instantly reborn anew, refreshed, redeemed and you're an heir to God's promises of goodness. God so loves every soul. But, you have to choice to accept God's free gift-He won't force anyone to accept it. Willingly wanting and accepting it is up to you. You see, this world our eternal home- heaven is. For Christians, the best is yet to come.

Everyone has sin in their life and sin has power over you. God sent His Son, Jesus to save you from the penalty of sin and help you conquer that sin.  And, no sin can enter heaven. Asking and accepting what Jesus did on the Cross for you, paying for all your sin(s) is the only way into heaven. When you ask Jesus into your heart, you are exercising faith and trusting God, and God is faithful and true to His Word. Your spirit is born, this is called the second birth or born-again. Inside, the old you is passed away-you're a brand new creation on the inside. God sees the purity of Jesus when He looks at you after you've asked Jesus into your heart. This is a spiritual transformation and one with eternal perks and benefits.  Your sins are forgiven and you're adopted into God's family. You still won't be perfect, but by accepting Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, not only are you redeemed unto God, you now have heaven to look forward to. The rest of your life, serve God for the wonderful gift of life He has done for you, so one day when you're face to face with your Lord, you have many crowns to present to Him in heaven. You know, it's like being invited to a long awaited, special occasion and not anything to present to the person of honor. You don't want to be empty handed. Knowing you're future is solidly secure because you have Jesus in your heart, you're sins are forgiven, you're in right standing with God, you're heaven bound, you can confidently serve others and point them to Jesus as well so they can have the same.  Each person and soul you lead or point to Jesus is another crown you'll have to present to Jesus.   



Bible scripture - Book of John, entire Chapter 6
                         John 10:28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.
                         Romans 8:2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
                         1John 5:11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
                         Revelation 21:6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.
                         Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace
                       
 

Get off that broad highway leading downward and onto the narrow path leading upward. Keep the faith and keep journeying forward to your high calling.