Not Ashamed

I've been thinking a lot lately about sharing my faith. Being a fairly reserved person, it's not really in my character to just come out and start telling you all about Jesus and what he means to me. I like to think I am not ashamed of my faith, but its not always easy to get into a conversation when you're not really a conversationalist to start with.

Lately I've convicted though about those around me that don't have a relationship with Christ. People are dying all around us every day, and whether we like it or not, the truth is clear: they are either now in heaven or they are in hell. It's easier to try and convince ourselves that if God is love, no one will really go to hell, or they'll at least get a second chance. But that's not what the Bible says. God is love, but God is also just. If he looks at you and sees sin, he has to look away. He cannot tolerate sin. People go to heaven not because there are some of us who have never sinned, or have done enough good that he can look past it so we can go to heaven, but because God provided a way to be cleansed of our sins-that way being through the blood of his son.

I believe Jesus was and is God's only begotten son, sent to this earth to offer himself as a sacrifice, as atonement for our sins. Not only that, but he also died the same death that we as humans are subject to. Unlike us however, he was raised from the dead, overcoming the power of death forever.

Being a "Christian" for me is not about a set of religious traditions or trying to be good enough. It's about having a relationship with the one who saved me from my sins-Jesus Christ. I don't go to church because its what is required of me-I go because I love him for what he has done for me.

But he didn't die just for me. If you are readying this, he died for you too. In fact, he died for us all.

If you are not sure you're going to heaven today-you can be. All it takes is this:

-to recognize your sin and yourself as a sinner-"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:22)

-to realize that the penalty for your sin is death-"for the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23)

-to believe that through the blood of Jesus the penalty has been paid-"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)

-to confess that you believe in Christ's sacrifice to save you-"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved" (Romans 10:9-10)

-to be assured of your salvation, knowing "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13)

That's it. That's all it takes. A sinner with a sincere heart is much more pleasing to God than one who is attempting to prove his own righteousness (see the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in Luke 18). But it all starts with recognizing our sin. We are all sinners, no matter what we've done, and we can all be forgiven, no matter what we've done.

So don't spend another day wondering. Jesus paid the penalty for your sin, once and for all.

So call on him today.

Ask for forgiveness.

Receive him into your heart and life.

Rest assured that you have a home in heaven.