Dearest friend

       Dearest friend,

       I am writing to you today about a very important topic. Actually the most important topic you will ever hear about. This will be a long and hard yet joyful letter for you to read. It may hurt but Proverbs says that a friends wound are better than an enemies soft spoken words. I am going to tell you about our wretchedness and our eternal Savior. I am going to tell you about a wonderful calling. And about how and why you should give your life to the Savior, who can wash away this wretchedness. Do you want to be wretched or do you want to be happy? Do you want to have the joy Christ can give you? And the peace that comes with resting in Him?

       Ever since Adam's original sin man has been separated from God. This means you are separated from God. God is love and life. He is the source of joy. He is the source of all good things. We cannot be happy when separated from God. You are separated from God because you are a sinner. God cannot look at sin. He is too holy. You may say you are a good person. But you are worthy of eternal damnation in hell. Eternal separation from love, from life, from peace, from joy, from truth. When we break Gods's laws he has set up for our wellbeing we are sinning. When we don't listen to the holy spirit we are sinning. He lays his laws out clearly in the Bible for you to read. Have you ever taken the name of God in vain? Dishonored your parents? Lied? The fact is you, like me, are guilty of sin. You need someone to save you from your sins. You need someone to wash them away. You need someone to redeem you.

       Hell is the terrible place where those who do repent of their sins and do not believe in what Christ Jesus did for them go. It is best described as the pits of despair. It is eternal separation from God and eternal burning. Does this sound like a nice place to you? Do you want to live in the pits of despair for all eternity? Do you want to be separated from God and from joy forever? It does not matter how much "good you think you have done. You are a sinner and you will go to hell unless you repent. Take this analogy into concideration. There was a judge and he was judging some people who had committed crimes but the people said "look how much good we have done," would the rule be just ruler or an unjust ruler to let them off the hook? Should he still punish those who wronged Him and His laws even though they did some good stuff too? In the same way God cannot look down on us sinners and say "oh look they are doings lots of good things", because our sin blocks his view. He cannot look at you and your sin. You need someone to wash away these blemishes so that you can be in eternal bliss and communion with God. You need someone to save you from hell.

       There's is good news! God sent his son from the glorious heaven above down to earth to teach men about His goodness and judgement and to call you and me to follow him. He showed us what true righteousness looks like and gave us an example to follow. He then chose to obey his father and die a horrific death on the cross. While he hung there he took the sins of the whole world and paid the price to redeem sinners, to redeem your from your sins. He paid it all. You do not have to try to prove to God you are good enough to go to heaven, because you never will. Jesus bridged the gap between you and God. Accept his free gift and he will wash away your ugly sins. He made it possible for you to enjoy eternal bliss with God. You can be God's child. But the story does not end there. Your hero, Jesus, did not die forever. Just like He said He would, He rose from the dead 3 days after his death to fulfill his promise. He is now sitting at the right hand of God and preparing a place for all those who choose to believe in Him. Choose to repent of your sins, which Jesus died for and believe in the one who died to pay the debt you owed for your sins.

       There is more! This Savior that died for you loves you! He is love. God the Father loves you! The savior of the world loves you and cares for you. God loves you so much he did not want you to spend eternity in hell with the devil. He wants you to live on high with Him. 1 John 4:9-10 says "In this was manifested the love of God toward us; because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." He loved you enough to sacrifice His only begotten son for you. That majestic thought is awing. The creator of the universe loves a little part, such as you and wants you to enter into a personal relationship with Him. He wants you to come to Him with the faith of a little child and receive his gift of salvation. Choose to accept your heavenly Father's love and His Son's sacrifice.

       This is the only way to true joy. It is also the only way to avoid eternal damnation in hell. You can't do it yourself. Only the perfect sacrifice can pay your debts and give you real joy, peace and love. Jesus is the only way to heaven. He is the way, the truth and the light. Salvation is through Christ alone. Let his light lead you and let his truth guide you.The benefits are so much richer than anything you could ever try to gain on you own.

So choose to leave behind your sin and be welcomed into the joy of Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:9 says "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Confess your sin to the most high God and truly repent of it. Ask for forgiveness and He will forgive you.

       There is no need to fear when you are in Christ Jesus. Nothing and no one can take your salvation away. The bible tells us there will be trials and temptations but they are worth the eternal reward. In His Word He lays out tools for us to be able to withstand in the evil day. God is love and there is no fear in love.Fear not for as 1 John 4:4 says "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." There is evil all around us in this fallen world, but we have no need to fear because God protects His children and as Romans 8:15 says "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."

       In accepting His eternally free gift you will be given "peace that passeth all understanding." God is the source of true peace. You will have His complete protection and His unconditional love. You will be able to rest in the fact that you are the child of the King of Kings. Your Father, Lord, Savior, Lover, Life, and Comforter is stronger than all. He created all. He rules all. The Ruler of the world, of the farthest off galaxies, of everything in existence wants a relationship with you. He wants you to rest in Him. You have the most wonderful place to look forward to as your eternal inhabitation when God calls you to his kingdom. Choose to accept His peace.

       Will this always be easy? Will it always feel the best in the moment? No. In fact it will probably be very hard. You will need to find your strength in God. We are sinful and the worlds ways may seem enticing or just simply easier in the moment. It will be hard to stand up for Jesus. But it is worth it. It is a worthy calling to give your life to Christ. God will give you the strength to withstand in the evil day. James 1:12 says "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him." God will be your all in all. You need nothing else. His grace will suffice. In 2 Corinthians 12:9 our Lord told Paul, "...My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness..."

       Though it will not be easy, it is worth it to give your life to Jesus.

I hope I have shown you why this decision is the most important one you will ever make. Why you need to do it now and live it out. My dear friend, give your life to Christ. Repent of your sins. Sincerely Ask for Jesus' forgiveness. He will give it to you, along with peace, joy and the promise of eternal life with Him. He will send the Holy Spirit to comfort, convict and help you. Choose to stay in tune with the Holy Spirit and live your life for the one who came down from heaven to save you. Ask God to use you to further His kingdom and let Him. When God judges the world, Jesus will be your advocate. Choose to answer Jesus' calling to follow him.

Sincerely,

your friend,

resting in God's love, grace and peace.