WHAT IF your life was to end today? It’s not a question we’re confronted with often, and yet it is one of utmost importance. Do you know where you will spend eternity when this life comes to an end? The Bible says that every individual will spend eternity in one of two places…Heaven or hell. Often people say that a loving God would never send anyone to hell. What is missed in that statement is that a JUST God must have a payment for breaking His laws. The Bible tells us the penalty for sin (which is what breaking God’s law is) is death. (Rom. 6:23) And not physical death, but an eternal death consisting of separation from God in a lake of fire. (Rev. 20:14-15) Justice demands this penalty.

But the LOVE of God is demonstrated by the fact that God does not want you and me to have to pay that penalty. You see, God loves us so much that He sent His Son, JESUS, to pay the penalty for the sins of the whole world,(I Jn.2:2) which is exactly what Christ did when He died on the cross. (Rom. 5:8)  He could pay for our sins, because He had no sins of His own. (I Pet. 2:22) His payment for our sins is not the end of the story though. The Bible says that after He paid for our sins by His death, He rose again to justify us from those sins. (Rom. 4:25) All that is left for you and me to do is accept this payment and justification. How do we do this?

1. Believe in our hearts that Christ died and rose again.
2. Confess to God that we are sinners.
3. Ask Christ to forgive us of our sins and to save us.(Rom. 10:9-13)

Though prayer alone does not save, prayer and faith does bring salvation. Here is a simple prayer that you can pray in faith in order to ask Christ to save you.

"God I know that I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe Christ died for my sins on the cross and rose again. I ask you God to forgive me of my sins and I am trusting in Christ alone for salvation. In Jesus name I pray, Amen."