Answering the most important question

We all assume we have a purpose of some sort, but what is it?  If you ask 10 people that questions, you'll probably get 11 different answers.  Some will say that you should just have fun and be happy! There's certainly nothing wrong with some fun and happiness, but are they the reasons that we're here? No.  Some might say other good things like family or success.  Is there anything wrong with either of those things? Not inherently, no.  Those things are all good, but they still don't define why we are here.  Happiness doesn't last forever.  Fun fades.  Family is certainly a blessing for most, but they are not the ultimate purpose of our being here.  Success comes and goes.  So then why are we here?  If we are simply here to enjoy ourselves and pass away, why be kind or do anything at all that doesn't serve to bring us immediate happiness? Well the bible answers that for us. In 1 Corinthians 10:31, the apostle Paul writes "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
Well that sounds all fine and good, but what does that even mean?  You say "I believe in God" or "I'm a good person". There's just one problem.  God is holy.  He is absolutely perfect.  He is righteous and demands perfect righteousness from us.  "But, wait", you say, "no one is perfect!" You'd be almost correct.  No one who has ever walked the face of the earth is perfect except Jesus Christ.  We all sin and we're pretty good at it.  We can sin without even working too hard at it.  The problem is all the wrong that we do is an offense to a perfect, holy God.  One doesn't have to get much past the ten commandments before we all realize we've piled up quite a list of offenses.  So what is God to do about all of this?  Should He just wink at the evil that we think and do? That would be good for us but that wouldn't be very just.  When we see people do evil things, heinous things, what do we want?  We yearn for justice.  We want to see murderers go to jail.  We want to see thieves caught.  We want the person running around on their wife finally get busted.  Why, because as people created in the image of God, even though we're sinners also, we want to see other sinners get justice.  What about when it comes to us? what do we want? We probably want mercy.  When you're caught speeding and the officer pulls you over doing 15 mph over the speed limit, do you want a ticket? You'd probably be ecstatic to get off with a warning.  The problem is in order for a perfectly righteous God to be just, completely just, how does He deal with our sin.  He can't just overlook it.  It has to be paid for.  Every evil and wrongdoing from the beginning of the world until now must be paid for somehow.  Just think.  Every white lie, every bit of gossip, even the smallest of sins we don't even think about must be paid for somehow.  I don't know about you, but if I look at all the wrong I've done, I'm certainly going to have some explaining to do. 
So what can we do? Maybe if I stop doing bad things and start doing good things, I'll pile up enough good works that they'll outweigh the bad.  Sound pretty good, but there's one problem.  Even if a murderer never murders again, he's still a murderer.  Even if a thief never steals again, that doesn't change the fact that he stole something, especially to the one he stole it from.  So what do we do?  Well frankly it's not about what we can do as much as it is about what God did for us.  God Himself had to come to earth and walk in our shoes and do everything required by God.  He lived a life completely and totally without sin. One hundred percent perfection. Most of us have a difficult time getting through a day, or maybe even a few hours without doing something that we know is wrong.  Jesus lived His whole life perfectly, because along with being a man, He was also God.  
Well, that's great! But how does that help you and I?  When Jesus came and lived that perfect life, He did it for a purpose.  The purpose was so that He would be a complete and perfect sacrifice that was good enough to make payment for all the sins that have ever been committed in human history.  Sounds to good to be true.  Imagine every bill that you have or have ever had or ever will have being totally wiped out.  No questions asked.  Wouldn't that be life changing.  Imagine the relief of never having to think about money ever again. If I made you that offer, you'd jump on it wouldn't you?  God makes that offer to us in regards to our sin through Christ.  We may still have a mortgage, car note, or electric bill, but we can have the debt that we owe God completely and totally paid forever.  Sounds like a pretty good deal right? Eternal life, bought and paid for.  
The natural question would be how do I get the benefit of that offer.  With special deals there's usually a coupon code or limited time you can apply for the discount.  There's no special code or anything like that.  Believe.  The bible says that if we believe with our heart and confess with our mouth that Jesus was raised from the dead that we'll be saved.  That's it!
I know, I know.  It sounds too good to be true.  Well, I'll tell you now, it won't all be easy.  Hard times will still happen, you'll still struggle with doing wrong and thinking wrong.  But, you'll never have to worry about having to pay that huge debt.  
God makes that offer to everyone.  Repent, or turn from your sin, and believe on Jesus and you'll be saved.  There's no special prayer that needs said or special rituals that need to be performed.  Believe on Him and your life will never be the same.  
If you'd like to know more about Jesus and how you can have a relationship with Him, feel free to reach out us or stop by and see us at Church of the Open Door and we'd love to share with you more about Him.  We certainly look forward to hearing from you!