Do you ever complain about high gas prices? I know I do. Are there other things that are too pricey for you? I am pretty cheap so my wife shocked me recently when we were in a mall in St. Louis. I won’t mention the name of the store, but they had pots and pans that were a $1,000 each (and no we didn’t buy one at that exorbitant high price)! I wouldn’t spend $200 for a whole set of pots and pans.
What is the most valuable thing you have? Some people might answer money, assets, job, happiness or power. But when it comes right down to it, if we are really honest, our own life is probably the one thing we value the most.
So it really is mind blowing to think that Jesus willingly suffered and died on the cross. He didn’t do that for His own good. He didn’t do it for selfish reasons. He willingly laid down His life out of love. In John 10:17-18 Jesus says, “Therefore does my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man takes it from me, but I lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”
Jesus dying on the cross was a transaction between God and Jesus. If you don’t believe in Jesus, that doesn’t change the fact that He suffered tremendously and then died a shameful death on the cross for guilty sinners. Your not believing that doesn’t change the fact that it happened.
If you don’t believe Jesus died for your sins, then what will save you on Judgment day? Hebrews 9:27 states, “And as it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Again, your not believing that there will be Judgment Day doesn’t change the fact that there will be a Judgment Day.
If you have never been converted; if Jesus isn’t your Lord and Savior, what will save you on that day? What will be your defense? God will judge non-believers by the 10 Commandments. No one can measure up to them. The 10 Commandments are used to show us that we don’t measure up. We have all lied, stolen, lusted, coveted, loved other things more than God. We have all done these things at one time or another. No one can measure up to God’s perfect standard.
If you have never been born again, you are living under the wrath of God. Ephesians 5:5-6 says, “For this you know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolator, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words; for because of these things comes the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.”
If you are not truly saved, you are already under God’s wrath! If your conscience is bothering you, then believe the Gospel – believe the Good News. Turn away from your sins and put your faith in Jesus. Surrender your mind, body and spirit to Him. Then God can let you go free on Judgment Day. On Judgment Day God will no longer judge you by your own deeds (which the Bible says there is none righteous, no not one). He will judge you through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and you will appear spotless because Jesus was spotless. Jesus paid the ultimate price – no higher price can be paid than someone dying for you. Accept this amazing free gift. Repent from your sins and believe in the Gospel (Mark 1:15).