Imagine standing before a judge and being sentenced for severe crimes you have committed. Ten pieces of evidence show that you are guilty beyond any shadow of a doubt. The judge has just set a fine far too high for anyone ever to pay. If you do not have the money, you will have to spend the rest of your life in prison without parole.
What are you going to do? Can you save yourself? Do you have anyone who can pay the price for your punishment? Can a lawyer do anything for you? Is there anything that can be done to keep you from prison, to pay for your many crimes? Is there anyone who can save you?
You are terrified and completely beside yourself. Your life is over, and everything has collapsed around you. There is no hope. You had hopes and dreams, but now they are dashed to pieces. All your plans for your life are now lost, and it is entirely hopeless.
But what if someone you don’t know stepped into the courtroom that day? He walked up to the judge and started to talk to him about you. Not knowing what they were talking about, he looked back at you several times with kindness in his expression. You don’t know what is going on, but there is something that is giving you hope by his presence.
Suddenly, the judge turns to you and says, “This man has offered to take your place and take your punishment for you. Will you accept it?” Completely astonished and in amazement, you are speechless and wonder, “Who is this man!” How would you react? Would you accept the incredible sacrifice of this man? What kind of a man would do this? You have never experienced such love, compassion, and sacrifice before. That someone is willing to take the punishment you deserve.
Did you know that there is someone who has sacrificed Himself for you? His name is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who is King of kings and Lord of lords, and He died and rose again for the forgiveness of your sins.
You must know that someday you will die, and on that day, you will stand before the Judge of the whole universe. God Himself will judge you for every word, thought, deed, and motivation of your heart. He is more righteous, holy, and pure than any earthly judge, even more than you can imagine.
He will send you to either Heaven if you are found to be good or Hell if you are found to be bad. But the biggest question is, “Are you a good person?” Are you worthy of Heaven, or are you worthy of Hell? Honestly evaluate yourself as you continue to read.
How many lies have you told in your life? Have you stolen something? Regardless of the item’s value, big or small, if you have taken anything that was not yours, that is stealing. If so, that would make you a liar and a thief. Have you ever committed murder or even hated anyone? If you have merely hated someone, it makes you a murderer in God’s eyes.
Jesus said, “You have heard it of old you shall not commit murder, but I say to you whoever hates his brother has committed murder in his heart already.” Matthew 5:21-22
Have you ever committed adultery or looked at anyone with lust?
Jesus also said, “You have heard it of old you shall not commit adultery, but I say to you if you look at a woman to lust after her, you have committed adultery in your heart already.” Matthew 5:27-28
Have you ever coveted others’ possessions, disobeyed your parents, or worshiped anything other than God? If you are honest, you will realize you are not good. In fact, you are a liar, a thief, an adulterer, a murderer, covetous, disobedient, an idolater, and much more. God says, “There is no one righteous, no not one.”
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Did you know you must stand before God on Judgment day when you die? The truth is that you will be found guilty because you have broken God’s Law, the Ten Commandments. He will have to be imprisoned in a horrible place called Hell for all eternity. I would not want you to go there! God doesn’t want you to go there. But it is where most people are heading because of their own actions, words, and the condition of their hearts.
“And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,” Hebrews 9:27 “Where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ For everyone will be salted with fire.” Mark 9:48-49
Does this concern you? Does the thought of being sent to Hell scare you? It should. It is a real place where sinners will go. Did you know that God sent His only son, Jesus Christ, to step into your courtroom and take your punishment for you? Just as I explained earlier. Jesus is willing to take your place, taking the Wrath of God for you and then clearing your name completely.
“For all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.” Romans 3:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23
He loves you so much that He was willing to die on the cross to pay the price for your sins. He was mocked, beaten, scourged, wiped, and hung on a cross to die. He took upon Himself the complete Wrath of God you deserved as punishment for your many sins.
After that, He was buried and rose to life three days later. In this way, He paid for your sins and defeated sin and death. Now, He offers you salvation and forgiveness of your sins as a free gift by God. He also promises Heaven as a reward in exchange for your life of devotion to Him. Are you willing to give Him your heart and life in exchange? He has been waiting your whole life for this moment.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already because He has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” John 3:16-18
Jesus took the whole Wrath of God on Himself when He hung on that cross. The punishment that you deserve for all your many sins and crimes against a holy and righteous God. He died for your sins. But you MUST do a few important things to accept the gift He is offering you.
You must confess your sins to God with humility.
“Let your joy turn to sadness and your laughter to gloom and humble yourself before the Lord” Tell Him what you have done.” James 4:9
You must repent of your sins. That is, turn away from your life of sin and no longer live a sinful lifestyle but desire to obey God’s commands.
Put your complete faith and trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, following and obeying Him in all your ways. Give your entire life to Him to live in His righteousness.
You are not guaranteed another moment. You are only given the breath that is in your lungs right now. You may not wake up tomorrow. Only God knows the moment that you will be swept into eternity, and then you will have to stand before the throne of judgment, the judgment of God. When that happens, and you are still in your sins, it will be too late?
What is more important than your eternal soul? The answer is nothing is more important. Seek God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and you will find Him. Cry out to Him for forgiveness. Repent and turn away from your sin and ask God to change you. He promises that He will give you a new mind and a new heart so that you can follow and obey Him.
“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleanness, and from all your idols, I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you.
And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.” Ezekiel 36:25-28
Get a Bible and read it daily. Obey what God tells you through His Word. You can start with the Book of John, which is in the New Testament. Then, read the other three first books of the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, and Luke. These are called the Gospels. It is an excellent place to start.
Let God lead and guide you. He will make your path straight and call you His child. Someday, when you die and stand before God, instead of judgment, He will see the forgiveness of Jesus Christ upon you and reward you. He will then bring you into His paradise called Heaven for all eternity. So, when will you turn from your sin to Jesus?
“For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:36-38
The Soul Sower 