Invitation

On 1.19.1976 at 10:43 AM, I invited Jesus into my heart. From that day forward, He changed my life trajectory from eternal destruction in the lake of fire to a future eternity of endless blessings with Him in glory. Thankfully, we do not have to wait until heaven to receive blessings from on High! Upon receiving the gift of salvation (Eph 2:8-9), I immediately went from

• spiritual death to spiritual life 

• hellbound to heavenbound, 

• lost to found, 

• enemy to a son, 

• lost sinner to a saved sinner, 

• darkness to light, 

• blindness to sight,

• unforgiven to forgiven,

• without purpose to having purpose 

• without hope to having hope, 

• God on the outside to God in my life, 

• condemnation to redemption, 

• burdens to blessings  

• slave of sin to a slave of God,                                   

• without peace to a peace that passes all understanding,  

• and so much more (cf. 1 Cor 2:9-10)! 

Those things above are just some of the amazing byproducts of receiving the gift of salvation by grace through faith (Eph 2:8-9)! If you have never personally received Jesus into your heart, I implore you to take a reflective moment to seriously consider what Billy Graham is saying in "Steps to Peace with God." Jesus the Messiah is the only way to God the Father (Jn 14:6). 

If you have not received Jesus into your heart, you have but two choices before you: eternal death or eternal life. (1) you can stand on the precipice and be a spectator until you die in your sins and are forever separated from God, or you can cross over this untraversable gorge between you and God via the Bridge (Jesus) here and now for salvation and united with God Almighty forever as a son or daughter. Everyone who comes to God must cross the same bridge through faith in Jesus. There is no other way (cf. Acts 4:12).

I believe that asking Jesus to come into my heart and save me from my sins was the greatest thing I have ever done or will ever do, bar none! Yahweh desires that all men and women be saved, but He will not deliver us against our will (cf. Jn 3:16; 1 Tim 2:4; 2 Pet 3:9). Our choices determine our destiny, not the circumstances of life. Salvation is a profound choice (cf. Rom 10:13; Jn 3:18; 1 Jn 5:12) that carries the weight of eternity. I hope you have placed your trust in Jesus alone!  

After salvation, the next step of obedience is water baptism, which is a public confession of faith. I recommend attending a Bible-believing/behaving evangelical church that privately and publicly reflects a desire to be Word-centric rather than culturally focused. Every believer is the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Mt 5:13-15). Spiritual growth or maturity and a God-honoring life cannot occur apart from knowing and applying the Word of God daily! 

Never lose sight of the truth that Yahweh always means what He says and says what He means (cf. Ecc 3:14; Isa 46:10; 55:11; Mt 24:35; Jn 6:63; 1 Cor 1:18; Heb 4:12; 1 Pet 1:23). We are commanded to glorify God no matter what at all times, in all places, in all situations, and in all things (cf. Mt 5:16; 1 Cor 6:20; 10:31; Col 3:17, 23). It's a tall order; there is no doubt (Php 4:13; Jn 15:5), but the commands of Yahweh to us are never optional!! 2 Cor 5:10 reveals personal accountability to Yahweh in bringing glory to Him in our service to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords!

Let me leave you with the last written words of the Apostle Peter under inspiration (2 Tim 3:16) before his martyrdom, 

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen (2 Pet 3:18).  

He died without regrets in knowing, living, and dying for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Halleluyah! To Him be the glory in the present and the never-ending future tense. <><