How can't you be beside yourself with excitement, and appreciation, and relief? The only way you couldn't be is if the gravity of the situation hasn't quite clicked yet. Either that, or you might be completely oblivious to our hopeless situation without someone.
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
Ephesians 2:1-2
For many these days, I think the missing ingredient is awareness of sin and what that means for us. Most people believe they are "pretty good" all in all, and would not consider themselves sinners. But Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Malala, The Buddha, Mohammed, St Peter, John the Baptist, Abraham, King David, Billy Graham, Krishna ... all sinners to varying degrees. Huh? "If THEY are sinners, where do I stand?" Excellent question. But let's start with this truth: No one is without sin, not one. No one in history - no matter how "good" - has lived a holy and perfect life.
No one but Jesus.
The simplest example of sin is a lack of acknowledgement that our Creator God exists and created us. If we've even thought that He doesn't exist - and I know I have - we've sinned. If we've ever told even a "little white lie", held resentment toward another, gossiped, thought lustful thoughts about someone outside of marriage ... and the examples go on.
"So, where's the good news here, Greg? This sounds pretty hopeless. How can ANYONE live up to that standard?" you might say.
... and therein lies the issue with every other religion on earth. With Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism ... even Judaism, you must live up to an unattainable standard. Unattainable ... meaning you cannot attain it, which means there is no hope. In short, you can't do it. No one can. Your greatest efforts are worthless toward this end.
But God made a way.
He didn't have to, but He did. He loved us so much ... He wanted to be reconciled with us so much ... that He sent His only Son to, first, live the perfect life that we could not. Second, He paid the price FOR us (i.e. for the wages of sin is death). And, third, He showed everyone it was real by appearing to hundreds, then ascending into heaven publicly.
Here's the good news part:
Because He did this, we have been given the right to be called Children of God ... to be reconciled with Him, back into a perfect relationship with Him, just like it was before Adam and Eve turned away from God in the Garden of Eden.
When we accept Christ, making Him the Master of our lives (instead of us),we accept the gift of redemption and eternal life, long after our current bodies are dead and gone.
If God hadn't made a way, we'd be lost. Dead. We'd spend eternity away from Him and His glory (which we all enjoy currently to one degree or another, whether we believe in Him or not). If we reject the gift, we reject all good things ... the things we take for granted now. We drop into what can only be called "hell". We CHOOSE, in effect, to never feel God's warmth and comfort ever again.
But if we do accept the gift ... if we do ...
Amazing grace that saved a wretch like me. This is the Gospel ... a.k.a. the good news. And when someone gets it and accepts it, they can't help themselves. The joy is too overwhelming. It's good news that can't be hidden. It must be shouted from mountain tops, at work, in school, on a crowded street, ...
How can't you be beside yourself with excitement, and appreciation, and relief? The only way you couldn't be is if the gravity of the situation hasn't quite clicked yet. My hope is that it clicks for you as it clicked for me.
The light is on for me, and there is no going back.
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