My main goal for this blog has been to explore the mysteries of God. To show His beauty, to be thrilled over His grace. To encourage others in their life-long journey of knowing Him.
But how do you start this journey?
I’m quite aware that by the very nature of my blog the majority of my readers will probably already have begun this walk, but there may be a time when one of you is someone who is searching, who hasn’t yet begun, but wants to. You want to begin this life-long journey. You want to know this One who is such a mystery. You are longing for forgiveness and belonging.
This post is for you.
Let me start by saying how much my heart rejoices over you right now. I am thrilled, and humbled, to have the honor of walking you through this process, of introducing you to my Savior and Lord.
So take my hand, and let me lead you now down this path of life.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning- the sixth day. Genesis 1:31
We start our journey where any journey begins: at the beginning. “In the beginning God created” It’s not important at this time to debate the how’s, but it is important to understand that when He made His creation it was perfect.
God didn’t create suffering, He didn’t create death and injustice and pain. His creation was untouched by these things. It was never in His design.
And in the beginning, He created mankind. He created us for a purpose, and that purpose was because He wanted someone to love.
And He wanted someone to love Him.
But anyone who knows anything about love knows that love cannot be forced. For love to be real you must have the opportunity to choose it. You must also have the ability to reject it.
Man rejected God.
Sin and Death and Suffering entered the world. It made an impassible barrier between us and God.
As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; Romans 3:10
The first step in our journey is understanding this. Understanding that we are separated from God by the sin in our lives. It may not seem fair because we know its impossible for us to be perfect, and perfection is required to bridge this gap back to God. We are left in an existence of death. An eternity of separation from Him.
Except God knows very well our weaknesses. And He is very much unwilling to just give up on us.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
Sin required a penalty. The penalty of death. Mans rebellion bore a consequence. It had to be met. We owe a debt.
So Christ paid our debt.
This is the meaning, the purpose, of the cross. It is Christ bridging the gap. Giving us a way of salvation. Becoming a ransom for us.
For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. 1 Timothy 2:5-6
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21
Our second step is to understand this sacrifice. To realize that there IS a way we can come to God, and that way was made for us by Christ.
A free gift of Salvation offered to us and paid for in His blood.
So what do we do now? How do we accept?
Acknowledge. Repent. Believe. Accept.
Come to God, admit you need Him. Acknowledge that you understand and know your sin.
Turn your heart away from your will. Repent and turn to God. Repent means to turn away. To take a different direction. Repent of your sins and turn to Christ.
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, Acts 3:19
Believe. Simply believe He exists. That He really did do what He says He’s done.
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God John 1:12
Just accept it! Accept the gift! All of these “steps” aren’t really separate things at all, but one moment of true choice and decision.
There is nothing you must do to make yourself worthy, just accept.
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9
Praying this through before God can seem strange and unnatural when you’ve never done it before. This is why its common to be led in a “prayer of salvation,” or “sinners prayer.” It isn’t the words that are somehow magic, but the genuineness in your own heart as you speak them. You can say your own prayer, but if you aren’t comfortable enough to do so please feel free to use the words below. Speak them from your own heart.
Lord, I understand that I am a sinner. I know that I can do nothing to save myself. I am sorry and repent of my sin. Thank you for sending Jesus to die on the cross for my sin. I accept Your gift of salvation and I choose today to make Jesus Lord of my life. I give You my heart and my life. I ask You to come into my heart and reign in my life. Thank You for coming into my heart Lord. I confess these things in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Welcome Home.
~Joy Aletheia Stevens
What Next?
Here I am going to add links to articles to help guide you a bit on your first steps in this walk with Christ:
Finding a Home: A Guide To Finding A Church, And Then Actually Being In A Church.
~
Photo Credit: by Ihar (CC BY 2.0)
Photo Credit: by ☻☺ (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Photo Credit: by Ricardo Camacho (CC BY 2.0)
Leave a Reply