Do You Know Jesus As Your Personal Savior?

     I have been giving a lot of thought to what is going on in people's lives. My number one thought is "do they know Jesus as their personal Savior?" The Jesus says in John 14:6, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me". What does that mean and what does it look like? I will try to explain each question to the very best of my ability.

     What does John 14:6 mean? After studying this scripture as well as preaching this very subject, I have come to only one conclusion, "Unless you have and know Jesus as your personal Savior, you have nothing. It doesn't make any difference if you know of God or even go to church, unless you have a one on one personal relationship with Jesus and have asked Him into your life to be your Lord and Savior then everything is for naught. The Bible says that we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8) As sinners, we are to ask for forgiveness and ask Jesus into our lives. If you think about it God has made it so simple for us, so why do we have such a problem with that? I hear people all of the time say, I know God, yet, you may see a post or hear them say something that in no way is God. You hear them take the Lord's name in vain and their actions are even opposite of the Christian life. If you were God, what would you do or what would you think, yet Jesus is quick to forgive to give them every opportunity to serve Him.

     I remember the time before I surrendered to the Lord like it was yesterday. I did everything in the world not to accept what I was feeling. No one was going to call me goody two shoes without a fight. But, one day when I reached my lowest point in life. God, with no questions asked accepted me and I accepted Him into my life. You know the most awesome thing about accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior? He met me right where I was at and accepted me just as I was. He will do the exact same thing for you. You don't have to clean up before you come to Jesus, you just need to accept Him. Jesus is the only Way to Heaven! Jesus is the only Truth about what you will receive! Jesus is the only life because without Him you are dead. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME!

     Question two-"What does it look like?" It looks like freedom from the way you used to be. God changes you from the inside out and you continue to live your life except in a new way. Remember that I had said I didn't want to be called goody two shoes? Well, nothing changed, I was still the same person only I looked at things with different eyes. It took a long time for me to get to where I am today and yet with every failure, God forgave me and I learned another lesson. For you to know the truth, I am still a long ways away but every day I have to ask for forgiveness and then try to get it right the next time. One thing you need to understand is, you will never be perfect, you will mess up, you will feel bad, but always remember, God said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). He will always be there to pick you up and put your feet on solid ground. He will always forgive you only because He loves you. John 3:16 tells you all you need to know about God. "For God so loved the world (you and me), He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in me should not perish but have life everlasting"

     Can you see how important a relationship with Jesus is? You can be the best person in the entire world, but, without that personal relationship with Jesus, you are just as lost as if you were the biggest murderer in the world. Take that opportunity right now to ask Jesus into your lives. Ask Him for forgiveness and accept Him as your Lord and Savior, then begin to live a new life with the assurance that when you leave this old earth you will go directly to Heaven and have eternal life. Your name will be written down in the book of life and there is great peace in just knowing that .

God bless you
Steve