Have You Met Jesus?

Everyone who knows me knows that I like to have fun but I want to be serious for this post. This is, perhaps, the most important post on the entire blog. In this post I want to talk about salvation. You may have already read the posts “What does it mean to be saved?”, “Why do I need to be saved?”, “What do I need to be saved from?” and if you haven’t, then I recommend you go back and read those posts first. In this post I’ll be conveying “How do I get Saved?” It is a serious topic. It’s the difference between life and death.

Life is tough. There is no denying that. Coping with life can sometimes seem to be an impossible undertaking. I once thought so. But, I was WRONG! If you think life is not worth living, then I’m afraid that you are just as wrong as I was. I want to tell you about Jesus. Since I met Jesus my life has improved in ways that I could not even imagine. I’ve drank more alcohol, took more drugs, had more women, blown more money, and had more hard knocks in life than most any three men my age can account for. Why can I say that? Most men my age who have done what I’ve done and experienced all that I’ve experienced are DEAD! They are dead as a result of their own indiscretions or they’ve blown their brains out! I’ve thought about it myself.

I’m most happy to say that I no longer have those thoughts. I’m happy, healthy, and prosperous. I have a comfortable home, a wonderful family life, and a job that provides income for our needs. Does that sound like something you would like to have? You can! Hope is NOT lost. I could go on and on about the life I enjoy and how a meeting with Jesus can change your life for the better forever. However, the best way to do that is to allow you to see what the Holy Bible has to say.

Take a short trip with me as I walk through the Book of Romans.

Romans 3:10-18

As the Scripture say, “No one is good – not even one.
No one has real understanding; no one is seeking God.
All have turned away from God; all have gone wrong. No one does good, not even one.
Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their speech is filled with lies. The poison of a deadly snake drips from their lips.
Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.
They are quick to commit murder.
Wherever they go, destruction and misery follow them.
They do not know what true peace is.
They have no fear of God to restrain them.

Now, Verses 16 and 17 tell the whole story of this passage. These are the verses that made me aware of what I’d become and why my whole life was upside down. Let’s look at another verse in Romans.

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

Look, everyone has committed sin or crimes against God and His standard. That means you, me, us, them, EVERYONE has missed the mark. What is sin? It is an ancient archery term which means to “miss the mark”. In my case it was more like I missed the whole target. But I learned that in my present state that I was “dead” in sin. I also learned that I could “live” with God.

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life In Christ Jesus our Lord.” Let’s face it. I was going to barbecue in hell. I knew it. God knew it. The devil knew it. So then, I took a step that caused Satan great concern. I read Romans 4:23-5:2

Romans 4:23 – 5:2

4:23 “Now this wonderful truth – that God declared him to be righteous – wasn’t just for Abrahams’s benefit.

4:24 “It was for us, too, assuring us that God will also declare us to be righteous if we believe in God, who brought Jesus our Lord back from the dead.

4:25 “He (Jesus) was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised from the dead to make us right with God.

5:1 “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.

5;2 “Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

What is all this talk about “righteousness” and “right”? Righteousness is an ancient legal term that means “to be in right standing before a judge”. When you are righteous, you stand in right standing before God who is the ultimate judge. Let’s take that though a step further.

Romans 5:8-9

8, But God showed his great love or us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he (Jesus) will certainly save us from God’s judgement.”

Now how hinky is that? God loves us although we have no love for Him and sends His SON to DIE for us so that WE can live RIGHTEOUS in GOD’S sight while we were/are STILL sinners!

That’s a LOT of love for someone who doesn’t yet love you back! That’s GOD’S way! So, how does one become righteous and right before God? How does one get saved from the penalties of sin? I’m glad that you asked. I’ll show you. But first I’d like to share a few other things with you.

Romans 2:1-4

You may be saying, “What terrible people you have been talking about!” But YOU are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you do the very same things.
And we know that God, in His justice, will punish anyone who does such things.
Do you think that God will judge and condemn others for doing them and not judge you when you do them too?
Don’t you realize how kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Or don’t you care? Can’t you see how kind He has been in giving you time to turn away from your sin?

Now that’s strong language. However, it described me to the letter at one time in my life. If I were a betting man, and I am not, I’d wager that it describes you as well. Oh yeah, but we can be made righteous, in right standing before God. I deliver on my promises. This is how it is done.

Romans 10:9-10

For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is LORD and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, YOU WILL BE SAVED.
For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are SAVED.

It really IS that easy! But it doesn’t stop there.

How do you know that it’s REAL? Well, if it is real, you won’t be ashamed to tell anyone. In fact, you should be eager to share your experience with EVERYONE!

You will need to align yourself with a Bible believing church. You will grow in spirit, faith, strength and endurance. Those are things that will change your life. How do you grow in spirit, faith, strength and endurance? You read the Bible. You learn to pray and talk to God. You learn to trust God to oversee your life and your problems in life. You learn to make solid life choices based on what you NEED rather than what you WANT. Before long, what you want and what you need will become more of the same thing.

Let’s take a modern day look at what Jesus did for us in an example. I got this example, from where I cannot remember, but it is relevant. If the creator of this example will contact me, I’m happy to give credit where credit is due.

I leave home to go to a meeting and I’m running late. Let’s just say that I exceed the speed limit reaching my destination. After getting there, and after the meeting starts, two policemen show up and inform me that they clocked me doing 125 miles an hour through a school zone with small children present. That’s reckless homicidal endangerment. They put me in handcuffs and take me before the judge. The judge informs me that a new law has been passed stating that my crime carries the penalty of a five million dollar fine or instant death. I’m sweating pretty heavily as I tell the judge that I don’t have fifty dollars much less five million. I’m immediately ushered toward the door. I’m about to face the firing squad without even saying goodbye to my family. But before my foot can pass through the door of no return, the judge cries out!

“WAIT!” I turn hoping against all hope that the judge has changed his mind. The judge holds up a small slip of paper. “Someone just cut a check for $5,000,000.00 to pay your fine! Mr. Richardson, you are free to go! Don’t make that mistake again!” You can believe I won’t make that mistake again!

That’s what Jesus did for us! He paid the price for all of us! We got a free pass. He loves us enough to do that while we have not given Him the time of day! I love Jesus for doing that for me. Will you accept Jesus today? Life, as you know it, will definitely begin looking up. God Bless!

In His Grip,

Lonnie Richardson

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