Would you like to receive a free gift? Everyone likes to get something for free. But you still have to accept it to receive it, don’t you? You have to give up something to have it as your own, even if it is only your pride to receive charity.
Did you know God is offering you the “best gift ever”? He is offering heaven, eternal life, and the forgiveness of your sins as a free gift? But many think that they have to do many good deeds to earn the right and privilege of Heaven. They don’t understand that it can never be earned but it must be given.
As well as some believe everyone will make it to heaven by being a good person. In this way, they will be admitted into the pearly gates with no problem. One popular belief is that by living a good life their good deeds will outweigh their bad. Another is that it is earned by their many religious works or it doesn’t matter what they do they will be ok. God is completely forgiving of all sin, no matter what.
But is that what God has said is the way to gain eternal life? Are any of these things the way to Heaven? What has God said?
“Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;” Hebrews 3:12
“Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him,
but the righteous shall live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4
The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself. Ezekiel 18:20
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.” John 14:6-7
As you can see, the sinful will die, but the righteous and those who have faith in God will be saved. Is it even possible to be righteous or sinless? Is there anyone who is a righteous and good person?
The answer is all have sinned, all have lied, stolen, lusted, and broken the rest of God’s perfect Law.
Take an honest look at yourself and see if you are a good person or if you have e broken God’s Law the Ten Commandments.
- You shall only worship God
- You shall not make any idols to worship
- You shall not take God’s name in vain
- You shall honor the Sabbath day and keep it holy
- You shall honor your Father and Mother
- You shall not murder
- You shall not commit adultery
- You shall not steal
- You shall not lie
- You shall not covet others possessions.
Do you qualify for this honor, for Heaven? How many lies have you told in your life? If you have told lies that would make you a liar. How many times have you stolen anything? If you have taken anything that doesn’t belong to you, it doesn’t matter the value, that makes you a thief.
Nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:10
Have you ever hated anyone, called someone a fool, or thought if you could get away with it you would kill them? If you have Jesus says you have committed murder in your heart already. Not to mention murder itself.
Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.” Matthew 5:21-23
Have you ever looked at someone with lust? For Jesus also said that if you look at someone to lust after them you have already committed adultery in your heart.
Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:27-28
Be honest, if you have done these things you are a lying thief and a murdering adulterer at heart. Wow, that does not sound good at all! That is not righteous behavior.
Things are not looking good for you. The truth is you are not good, no one is. We are alike, we are all sinners.
“There is none righteous, no not one.” Romans 3:10
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23
You indeed have broken God’s law. The Lord is perfect, righteous, and He can not allow any unrighteous or unholy thing into Heaven. He actually looks at the sinner as a lawbreaker or criminal, even if you only break one of them.
“For whoever keeps the whole Law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.” James 2:10
Someday you will die and stand before God, He will judge you by His Law. He will find you guilty, and sentence you to a horrible place He calls Hell, a place of torment, suffering, and punishment! I do not want you to go there! This is deadly serious.
“And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. ” Hebrews 9:27-28
But do you see what the second half of that verse says? Read it again. God sent His son to bear the sins of many. He is now offering you the free gift of Salvation through your faith in Him. He offers the forgiveness of your sins through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Jesus was sent to earth to live a perfect life and sacrificed Himself for you. He was a perfect sacrifice to make a payment for all of your sins because He obeyed all of God’s Laws perfectly. He suffered and died on the cross, took upon Him the complete wrath of God that you deserve. Then He was buried, raised from the dead after three days, defeating sin and death.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
“But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
Do you see that everything in this world and everything that you do or earn in this life has very little importance compared to your soul? What is important is where you will spend eternity afterward? Who else is offering you true salvation but Jesus?
The free gift God is offering to you is the best gift ever. It really is! You do not deserve it because of your sinful and wicked behavior. But He loves you so much He offered Jesus as a sacrifice to pay for your sins.
He loves you so much that Jesus took your punishment for you. But you must repent of your wicked ways and your sins. That means to turn away from your life of sin and completely trust in Jesus Christ as your savior.
You must abandon what you want in life and seek to follow and obey Him. That is how you receive it, by obeying Him completely and trusting Him by faith.
Jesus paid your fine. It is like a legal transaction. You committed crimes and Jesus paid the price for your release from prison, which would be Hell.
Either you will pay for your sins forever or you fall on your knees before the Lord and repent and ask Him to forgive you. Then He will grant you forgiveness and an eternity in Heaven. It truly is the “Best Gift Ever!”
Please consider this carefully!! Nothing is more important than your eternal soul, your eternal destination!
“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” Matthew 16:26
Turn from your sins today. Throw yourself at God’s mercies. Every day you wake up He is giving you another chance to live, another chance to repent and turn to Him. Every breath is a gift, an opportunity to change. How much longer will He remain patient with you? How much longer do you have?
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9
Follow and obey Jesus Christ alone for your salvation. Start reading the Bible today, start in the book of John. Where it talks about Jesus who is the Word. Who was with God at the beginning, who created all things, and loved you enough to die for your sins.
You don’t even have to own a Bible. The internet has many websites you can read the Bible for free. You can find many helpful messages here on this site.
Then repent and turn to the Lord, obey what God tells you through His Word.
He will lead and guide you to make your path straight and good. So when you reach the end of your life and take that last step over into eternity Jesus Himself will greet you into Heaven. You will receive the Best Gift Ever!
The Soul Sower 