This is a question that has been repeated over and over again since the beginning of time. The question for which the evading answer to this has been sought through many avenues, “relationships, possessions, jobs, families, addictions, etc.” without much success. The Bible is very clear that we can find no true satisfaction or our true destinies fulfilled by the temporal things around us as we were created for the eternal therefore only the eternal can truly satisfy. In the book of Mark chapter 8 we hear Jesus in a parable giving the call to all who would hear that giving ourselves to Him is the beginning of true life full of discovery and true reward.

Mark 8:36 States “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”

In the Book of Acts, we see Peter full of the Holy Spirit showing that being religious is not enough to produce full relational service to God and that the Lord Himself gives the power to heal and set free and that Salvation in found nowhere but Jesus.

Acts 4:8-12 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: Rulers and elders of the people! 9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed,10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is “the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.”

12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

We see that according to scripture that all mankind was bound to the futility of sin due to the act of rebellion through Adam and Eve but God Himself made open the way for our redemption through Jesus His Son. In the Book of 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verse 3 we read the following: For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

So we can see here the Lord’s great plan for those who will receive.

One of my favorite testimonies in the Word of God is found in the Book of Acts – the Apostles Paul and Silas had been arrested for preaching the Gospel and were thrown in prison and instead of complaining and blaming God for their situation, they began to acknowledge Him by praising and worshiping the Lord, as they did this the presence of the Living God became so great that not only did the chains and stocks that held Paul and Silas fall away but affected all those who were also imprisoned. Every door opened and every prisoner was set free. But to me the interesting thing that happened was that nobody left, even though they could have. What was the difference? What caused all to remain? I believe that they had encountered the great love, mercy and kindness of the Creator God who had Himself formed them. I believe that they discover the starting point of what they had been created for. Sometime during this activity of the Holy Spirit the very person that had put them into chains in the first place entered the prison and discovered all the cells open and feared that all had escaped and was about to take his own life due to the fear of those in authority over him, but Paul suddenly cried out to his captor “do not harm yourself – we are all still here”. How did Paul know the situation with the jailer? I believe that the Lord, because of His love for all mankind had revealed the mans situation to Paul in order to show the witness of Gods goodness, love and power was for all who would ask. You can see the response of the jailer in the scripture below.

Acts 16:30-31

He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household”.

You see the Bible tells us that God desires that we ALL would be saved and come to know Him.

We see in 1 Timothy chapter 2 verse 4 that it is God the Father who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

One key to Salvation is found in our ability to receive that Jesus is the answer for every need in our lives and it is He who causes us to see our true identity, what we have been created for and how to walk out the destiny and purpose that He has for our lives.

In the gospel of John, we find in verses 10-12 these words – He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

One translation states that He gives us the “power” to become children of God.

We also read in John’s gospel, chapter 10 verse 9 that Jesus is the door to salvation.

Now you might be saying to yourself that you are not worthy, or that you have done to many bad things, so many that you feel that you don’t deserve salvation. Or may be one that thinks that you are a good person and because of the good things that you have done that you deserve heaven. Well I have some news for you.

The Bible is very clear that we have all sinned and come short of His Glory! “Romans 3:23”. We can also read in 1John chapter 1 which states that if anyone says that he is without sin – that man is a liar and worst yet he is calling God a liar.

But the GOOD NEWS can be found in verse 9 it states that ” if I confess my sin to God – God is faithful and Just to not only forgive me but cleanse me of all unrighteousness.” (righteousness is right standing with God). So this verse tells us that we can cleansed of the sin that has impeded our eternal relationship with the God who made us.

So here we see two more keys – 1. I must see my need for salvation 2. I must confess my Sin.

This is called repentance – which means turning from my ways to His! – It means a change of my mind or direction. It means no longer depending on myself or my goodness, turning from my strength to His! It means asking Him for forgiveness and for a change of heart. He promises us that He will not turn us away, in fact He call us to come – we see this even in the Old Testament Book of Isaiah chapter 1 verse 18 which reads – Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

You see – I cannot receive what I cannot accept!

Romans chapter 10 verse 13 says this in the New International Version “for, Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”

To call means to require, to have need of, to ask.

You see it is the simplicity of the Gospel “Good News” that opens Heaven for all who will enter through the door “Jesus” but the major key here is that we ask! Jesus Himself stated this in the Book of John – chapter 14, verse 6 -“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Will you come, will you ask, will you seek Him and pray this prayer with me:

Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry

for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus

Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from

my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess the Lord our God and believe in our

hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my life.

With all my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my

own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited

grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license to go my own way,

but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring

glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life. AMEN!

If you prayed this prayer and made the decision to give your life to Christ and still feel that you need more – YOU are not alone – we were all created for fellowship and have a need to continue to grow in our faith so I would encourage you to seek out other believers in order to find the encouragement that is needed in order to strengthen you faith I encourage you to find a church that believes the whole Word of God and believes that our God is still working miracles today and is always there for us. If you are in the vicinity of Glory of the Lord Family Ministries and would like to visit with someone about your experience with Christ and how to leave the past behind, feel free to contact us to make arrangements for a time to visit and we would also like you to know that you are welcomed to join us in service at any time. We look forward to hearing what God is doing in your life.

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

Pastor Barbara Becker

Glory of the Lord Family Ministries

Watford City, North Dakota