The Bible has Answers
"Am I prepared for what comes after this life?" Your relationship to Jesus Christ is the answer to that question. The Bible tells us in 1 John 5:13, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life..." The simple truth is God wants you to know where you're going!
Realize Your Lost Condition
In order to find the way to eternal life with God, I must admit I am lost in sin. Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Sin is anything that I think, do, or say that breaks God’s law. All of us are guilty of choosing occasionally to disobey God in action, attitude or thought and those sins separate me from God. Isaiah 59:2 says, "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you…" Sin has a penalty. Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." The "wage" or payment for our sin is spiritual death, and eternal separation from God. Our sins separate us from a holy God. They separate us from Him in life and in death. Those that do not receive Christ will spend eternity separated from God in a real place called hell.
Religion and Good Works Are Not the Answer
Religions try to create their own ways to God. Their systems may seem logical, but they cannot bridge the gap created by our sin. Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” In other words, our thoughts and ways are not what matter. God’s Word, the Bible, provides true answers of grace and forgiveness. In Ephesians 2:8–9 the Bible says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
The Good News: Jesus Christ Provides the Way!
Even though we were lost and separated from God, He loved us, and because He is love, God sent His Son to die on the Cross and raise from the dead three days later. John 3:16 explains “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, He became the payment for our sin. Now, we do not have to pay for our sin ourselves. By His grace, salvation is provided. In Romans 5:8, the Bible says, “But God commendeth [meaning proved or demonstrated] his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
You Must Receive Christ by Faith
We must trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and receive Him in repentance and by faith. We must stop trusting ourselves, our works, and our religions, and place our full trust in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of our sin and eternal life. In Romans 10:13 the Bible says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” That is a promise directly from God that if you will pray to Him, confess that you are a sinner, ask Him to forgive your sins, and turn to Him alone to be your Saviour; He promises to save you and give you the free gift of eternal life. You can make that decision today by praying from your heart, something like this:
"Dear God, I know that I am a sinner. I know that I do not deserve Heaven. But I believe that you love me and sent Jesus to die for me. I believe that He was buried and that He rose again. I’m turning from my sin and placing all of my faith in Jesus and Jesus alone. I now confess you by faith as my Lord and Savior. Thank you for saving me. In Jesus name, Amen."