I just got back from the funeral of a very good friend of mine. He was a youth pastor, a teacher, a father, a husband, and a trustworthy friend. He leaves behind a wife and five kids. He was thirty-three. Tragedies like this one have a way of bringing clarity into our lives. My friend was well accomplished. He had several degrees and an important career. But as we remembered him today, very little of that mattered. What does matter is the relationship he had with Jesus Christ.
As I sat through the service this morning, I thought of you. I thought of the hundreds of girls who read this blog in search of Truth and I was reminded that the most important thing I can do here is to point you toward a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. The things we talk about on this site are important. It matters how we dress and who we date and how we spend our time. But apart from a relationship with Jesus, those things are more than meaningless. I’d guess that there are visitors to this blog who don’t have a saving relationship with Jesus. Maybe you come from a Christian home, but have yet to make a personal decision. Maybe you have landed here while searching for answers to life’s big questions or while researching a variety of religions. Maybe your sin seems too huge to conquer or you are waiting to get your life “cleaned up” before turning it over to Christ. I am praying that the Holy Spirit will use this post to lead you to a life-changing encounter with Christ during which you make the decision to claim Him as your Savior.
In John 14:6 Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” It’s crucial that you understand that Jesus is the only way. He’s the only way to salvation. He’s the only way to healing. He’s the only way to hope. He’s the only source of Truth. Romans 10:9-10 says this, “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 with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” To become a Christian, there are some important steps to take. You have to confess your sin and your need for a savior. You have to believe that God is who he says he is and you have to allow that knowledge to move from your head to your heart. On page 128 in Lies Young Women Believe, Nancy and Dannah outline a prayer you can pray if you are willing to take this step. Here’s how it goes.
An Eternal Prayer Dear God: I confess that I have sinned. I understand that my sin is ultimately rebellion against you, and it blocks me from having a relationship with You. I know I cannot overcome it on my own. I believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son who died on the cross to take the punishment for my sin. I accept this free gift. Please forgive me. Send Your Holy Spirit to dwell in me so I can have victory over sin and live a life that is pleasing to You. When I die, take me to live with you in heaven. Until then, help me to serve You and honor You. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
To those of you who already know Jesus, I urge you to boldly share your faith with others. There are people around us who do not know the hope that we have. If you're like me, you probably need to be reminded of that from time to time. I leave you with some words from my friend’s own blog. He understood the power of Truth. He knew the source of that Truth was Jesus. I am praying that you will know it too. “I believe God desires spiritual warriors who can yield the sword of truth with both love and accuracy. (2 Timothy 2:15) I do not contend to have all the answers, but I do have a desire to help raise the bar.”