A purpose, a meaning, a reason to live - these things we all desire

and search for in life. Despite our search, we still feel empty and

unfulfilled. Each of us has an empty place in our heart, a spiritual

void, a God-shaped vacuum. Possessions won't fill it, success won't

fill it, nor will relationships, or even religion. Only through a vibrant

relationship with God can this void be filled. However, before such a

relationship can be established, we need to face a serious problem.

The Problem: Sin

The Bible identifies this problem as sin. Sin is not just the bad

things we do but an inherent part of who we are. We are not

sinners because we sin; we sin because we are sinners. King David

once wrote, "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my

mother conceived me." Psalm 51:5. Because we are born sinners, sinning

comes to us naturally. Scripture tells us, "The heart is deceitful above

all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9.

Every problem we experience in society today can be traced back

to our refusal to live God's way.

The Solution: Jesus Christ

God understood our problem and knew we could not solve it alone.

So he lovingly sent his own Son, Jesus Christ, to bridge the chasm

of sin that separates us from God. Jesus laid aside his divine

privileges and walked the earth as a man, experiencing all the

troubles and emotions that we do. He was arrested on false charges

and killed on a Roman cross. But this was no accident. He willingly

suffered the punishment deserved by us all. And then three days

later, Jesus rose from the dead, conquering sin and death forever!

The Response: Accepting God's Offer

To know Jesus Christ personally and have our sins forgiven, we

must acknowledge that we are sinners separated from God and

that our only hope is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came and

died for our sins. But we must not stop with this realization.

We also need to confess and turn from our sins. And then we must

invite Jesus Christ into our life as Lord and Savior. He will move

in and help us to change from the inside out. If you are ready to

repent of your sins and accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior

so that you can receive his forgiveness, take a moment to pray:

God, I'm sorry for my sins. Right now, I turn from

my sins and ask you to forgive me. Thank you for

sending Jesus Christ to die on the cross for my sins.

Jesus, I ask you to come into my life and be my

Lord, Savior, and Friend. Thank you for forgiving

me and giving me eternal life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen!

If you prayed this prayer and meant it, you can be sure that God

has forgiven you and received you into his family.

~†~