Some people say you need to accept Jesus by asking Him into your heart because you will have a better life. I think these people have good intentions, but I’m afraid theiy are missing the mark. I’m afraid a lot of people mistakenly want to try this “Jesus thing” or “Christian thing” out for a while – to see if they magically get a better life.
If you feel this way, I implore you to read the Bible. I beg you to read the Bible. Read the Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Read the verses where Jesus says that He came for the repentance of men. Read His description of Hell – where the worm dies not and the fire is never quenched, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth! Take note in Matthew where Jesus says that He will send His angels to separate out the saved from the lost and the lost will be cast into the fire (Matthew 13:37-42).
Salvation isn’t like asking someone to join you for a tea party. Salvation is about saving you from eternal and excruciating suffering. Salvation is something you should cry out to Jesus for with all your heart – just like the tax collector cried out to God in Luke 18:13, “And the publican, standing afar off, would not even lift up so much as his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.”
I think this is the key to salvation – why are you coming to Jesus? Have you heard that being a Christian is a better life, that you’ll have happiness, wealth and health? Are you trying Christianity as something to do, maybe because you’ve tried everything else and want to give this a go?
Or are you rightly calling upon the name of the Lord because you realize that you are sinner and that there is nothing you can do on your own to earn your salvation? You realize that your sin is rebellion against the God who made you? If you understand that there is none righteous, no not one and that we all deserve eternal punishment in Hell and that Jesus is the only Way – then you are truly ready for salvation. You will cry out to Jesus as the tax collector did.
You won’t merely accept Jesus as your Savior. You will cry out to Him in anguish, understanding that you are undeserving of His wonderful mercy and sacrifice. You will weep at Jesus’ feet as Mary did (Luke 7:38). If you have this kind of salvation, it will be real, it will be everlasting and you will never be the same. You will be a new creature.
If you’ve never experienced this kind of real salvation, please cry out to Jesus today to save you. Ask Him to forgive you for your sins, repent by turning away from your sins and put your faith in Jesus and in Him alone. Surrender fully to Him. Then read your Bible every day and praise and thank Jesus for saving you.