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Let's get something straight…
or: What Christianity is about and what it is not |
Let me begin with an example:
Imagine you´re flying in an airplane. Think of a really big and comfortable one.
You know that this flight ends with a jump out of it in 25,000 feet height. Most of the others don´t know.
Parachutes are beneath the passenger´s seats.
What would you do?
Feel happy with knowing the truth and keep it as a secret? Or will you try to tell the other passengers that at a certain point they´ll have to jump out of the plane and that the parachute is the only thing saving them from sure death?
Look, this is approximately what I am trying to do.
Problem is that most of the people say: "Yeah, I´ve heard of this parachute-stuff. But this doesn´t work for me. I think I´ve found a different way to get out of here."
Or "scientists recently have found evidence that this plane doesn´t fly that high so we don´t need a parachute."
Or "Look, I don´t want to wear that thing. It´s not that comfortable and it looks stupid on me - What will the others say? They will surely laugh at me…"and so on and so forth…
Even some manufacturers of parachutes proclaim: "No, a real parachute is a bit overdone. We´ve invented a little pocket-version of the parachute. This looks way better and is for improving your flight. Have more fun with it."
But unfortunately those who wear this pocket-version try to get rid of it after a while, because they discovered it does not really improve their flight. They haven´t been told that a parachute is for saving from sure death, so they throw it away.
So what am I going to tell you?
Let me ask you simply: Do you think you´re a good person?
Okay, and what about the Ten Commandments? Do you know them? Did you keep them?
Have you ever stolen something? Ever lied to someone? Have you ever looked with lust at another person? And what about giving money, success, even another person, … first priority in your life?
Be honest! I think you have.
Of course this makes you human – but this also makes you guilty before God. This makes you a sinner – like all of us. The bible says that God is so holy that we will not be able to meet Him or even face Him with our sins.
This is why He cannot simply forget about our mistakes.
The bible says if we´ll be guilty on the day of judgement we cannot but spend eternity in hell. This is heavy stuff, right?
You might think "Oh, I´m out here. I cannot believe that."
If so, let me ask you another thing:
Can you guarantee to 100 per cent that this is not true?
Can you guarantee that there is neither heaven nor hell?
Can you guarantee that you will definitely not be lost in eternity when you die?
If not I would suggest to read on.
I guess I´ve made myself quite unpopular for identifying you being guilty by the law – guilty before God and that there´s nothing you can do about it.
But I do also have good news for you.
The fine has already been paid for you!
I am sure you´ve heard of this once or a few times in your life before. But this time it makes sense.
This time it´s personal.
This time it´s just for you.
Imagine a court. You´re blamed and found guilty. The judge raises the fine up to 500,000 dollars and at that very moment someone comes in and brings a cheque of this 500,000 dollars. Now the judge says: "Okay, the fine has been paid for you. You are free to go."
Why is that so?
As mentioned before no sin can stand God´s pure holiness. Therefore we cannot reach out for Him. Our sin is always between us and Him.
But God created us, he loves us, he wants us to be with Him in eternity. He doesn´t want us getting lost. He wants to save every single one of us.
And so he did.
He sent His only son Jesus to earth to die for us, to die for your and my sins. He died so you and me don´t have to be judged by our deeds any more.
All we have to do is to take this gift from Him.
All we have to do is to fall on our knees and say: "Jesus, I need you. I thank you for dying for me. Please forgive what I´ve done. Please come into my heart and stay forever."
Simply tell Him. He´s there and has always been. He´s listening and he won´t leave us alone.
His is the kingdom and the power and the glory and there´s nothing He cannot do.
The bible says that for those who accept Jesus as their saviour there will be no judgement at all.
If we´ll die one day, death cannot keep us ‘cause we are righteous by the blood of Jesus Christ.
God bless!
©2006 by Marko Osterholz
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