A duck hunter was with a friend in the wide-open land of southeastern
Georgia. Far away on the horizon he noticed a cloud of smoke. Soon he could
hear crackling as the wind shifted. He realized the terrible truth: a
brushfire was advancing, so fast they couldn't outrun it.
Rifling through his pockets, he soon found what he was looking for-a book of
matches. He lit a small fire around the two of them. Soon they were standing
in a circle of blackened earth, waiting for the fire to come. They didn't
have to wait long. They covered their mouths with handkerchiefs and braced
themselves. The fire came near -- and swept over them. But they were
completely unhurt, untouched. Fire would not pass where fire had already
passed.
The perfect standard of the Law of God is like that brushfire. We cannot
escape it because we are all guilty of breaking it. (Rom. 3:23) And under
the Law, there was only one penalty for breaking it: Death. But if we stand
in the burned over place, not a hair of our head will be singed. Christ's
death is the burned-over place. He died for us and paid our penalty of sin.
(2 Cor. 5:21)
Right
now, answer this important question: Why should God let you into heaven? Is
it your good lifestyle, your baptism, your church attendance, your moral
stand? You see, none of these or any of your own efforts will ever get you
into heaven because no matter how hard you try, even your best works will be
consumed by the perfect standard of God’s Law.
There is only one way to get into heaven: Stand in the burned-over place.
Call upon Christ Jesus right now! Ask Him to forgive your sin and to come
into your life as your personal Saviour and Lord. If you listen closely,
He’s already knocking on the door of your heart. Bow your head in prayer
right now and invite Him in.
God says in order to go to Heaven, you must be born again. In John 3:7,
Jesus said to Nicodemus, "Ye must be born again." In the Bible God gives us
the plan of how to be born again which means to be saved. His plan is
simple! You can be saved right now. How?
First of all, you must realize you are a sinner. "For all have sinned,
and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Because you are a sinner,
you are condemned to death. "For the wages [payment] of sin is death"
(Romans 6:23). This includes eternal separation from God in Hell. it is
appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27).
But God loved you so much He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus, to bear your
sin and die in your place."... He hath made Him [Jesus, Who knew no Sin] to
be sin for us ... that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2
Corinthians 5:21).
Jesus had to shed His blood and die. "For the life of the flesh is in the
blood" (Leviticus 17:11)... without shedding of blood is no remission
[pardon]" (Hebrews 9:22). "...God commendeth His love toward us, in that,
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).
Although we cannot understand how, God said my sins and your sins were laid
upon Jesus and He died in our place. He became our substitute. It is true.
God cannot lie.
"God ... commandeth all men everywhere to repent" (Acts 17:30). This
repentance is a change of mind that agrees with God that one is a sinner,
and also agrees with what Jesus did for us on the Cross.
In Acts 16:30-31, the Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas: "... 'Sirs,
what must I do to be saved?' And they said, 'Believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ, and thou shalt be saved ...
Simply believe on Him as the one who bore your sin, died in your place, was
buried, and whom God resurrected. His resurrection powerfully assures that
the believer can claim everlasting life when Jesus is received as Savior.
"But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of
God, even to them that believe on His name" (John 1:12). "For whosoever
shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13).
Whosoever includes you. Shall be saved means not maybe, nor can, but shall
be saved. Surely, you realize you are a sinner. Right now, wherever you are,
repenting, lift your heart to God in prayer.
In Luke 18:13, the sinner prayed: "God be merciful to me a sinner." Just
pray from your heart in your own words:
"Oh, Lord God, I know I am a sinner and I am sorry. I believe Jesus was my
substitute when He died on the Cross. I believe His shed blood, death,
burial, and resurrection were for me. And I now call on His Name ask Him to
come into my heart as my Savior. I thank You for the forgiveness of my sins,
the gift of salvation and everlasting life, because of Your merciful grace.
In Jesus' name, Amen."
You say, "Surely, it cannot be that Simple." Yes, that simple! It is what
the Bible says. It is scriptural. It is God's only plan. There is no other
way. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto
the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) My friend, believe on Jesus and receive
Him as Savior today. Your soul is worth more than all the world.
"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose
his own soul?" (Mark 8:36). Be sure you are saved. If you lose your soul,
you miss Heaven and lose all. Please! Let God save you this very moment.
If you have just
asked Jesus to come into your heart and save you, please take a moment to
let us know by clicking the Feedback link so that we too might rejoice with
you. We would love to forward a new bible and some wonderful tracts for new
Christians that will help you get started in your new relationship with
Jesus. And if by chance, you still have not decided to trust Christ as your
Saviour yet, please let us know as well so that we might answer any
questions you might have.
Yours in Christ's
Service,
Pastor Charles
Kennedy
Columbus Baptist
Church
