Life seems to be about destinations. Every day, we wake up with a plans to go somewhere. We’re planning for work, or college, or we’re thinking of that perfect place for our dream vacation or wedding. Maybe you’re planning to purchase a new home, but you’re not sure where to live or which career path to take. Life is full of decisions, and as it is in the natural world, so is life in the spiritual. Do you know where you are going? If you are reading this booklet, it’s because you are very special to God, and He wants you to know Him personally. He loves you very much and created you to have a relationship with Him and to spend eternity in Heaven. Would you like to learn more about how to arrive at this destination? Here are some things you need to know:1. We are all sinners.Romans 3:23 says “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Our sin separates us from God: “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that he will not hear you.” (Isaiah 59:2)2. Sin has a penalty. “For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23a)3. Jesus Christ paid the penalty.“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)Jesus, who is the Son of God and therefore fully divine and eternal, became a human so that He could become our substitute. He allowed Himself to be put to death on a first-century Roman cross, suffering the death that we deserved so that sin would be paid for, once and for all.4. Salvation is a free gift.“…but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23b)“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)5. Christ is the only way to salvation.Jesus rose from the grave three days later, showing He alone has the power over sin and death. He bridged the separation from God that sin had caused.He said: “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father [God] except through Me.” (John 14:6)6. Christ is the door to eternal life.Through His death and resurrection, Jesus became the only way for us to be set free from sin and its awful consequences: death and the judgment to follow.To explain this, Jesus likened Himself to a shepherd acting as a door through which His sheep—those who belong to Him—could enter a place of peace and safety.“I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” (John 10:9)7. But there is a door that you must open first.Jesus said: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” (Revelation 3:20)He is knocking at the door to your heart, wanting you to open to Him. The Bible says that when you put your trust in Him to save you from sin and death, He will come to live in you by His Holy Spirit and give you the sure hope of Heaven (see Ephesians 1:13-14; Colossians 1:27).Receiving this great promise requires you to believe in Jesus and receive Him as your Savior:“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” (John 1:12)Are you ready to trust in Jesus Christ, the only way to eternal life?To receive God’s free gift of salvation, pray something like this, from your heart:Dear God,I know I’m a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus died for my sin and that He rose from the dead. I want to trust Him as my Savior and follow Him as Lord, from this day forward. Guide my life and help me to do your will. I pray this in the name of Jesus, Amen.Congratulations! Welcome to the family of God. You are now a new person in Christ. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”Now that you are a follower of Jesus Christ:1. Read God’s Word, the Bible, daily.“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)The Bible is a wonderful resource God has given us! It helps us learn more about Jesus and tells us how He loves us. Take time to read the Bible every day, even if it is just a little at a time.If you don’t know where in God’s Word to get started, visit www.youversion.com to find a Bible reading plan.2. Spend time with other believers.Spend time with others who also love Jesus. Encourage and help each other. (Hebrews 10:25)Going to church and spending time with others who also believe in Jesus can help you learn more about God, how to live His way, and how to love Him and others better. 3. Invite others to know Jesus, too.Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” (Mark 16:15, NLT)Jesus is the best gift we could ever receive. He gives us forgiveness from our sins and a future filled with hope. Jesus is not a secret to be kept for only a few people. His gift of salvation is free to everyone who believes and trusts in Him. He wants us to tell everyone so that they can come to know and love Him also. So, invite others you know to join you in this new journey with Christ.
