Hope

My friend got me thinking when he told a story of his 3 and a half year old son. He told about how his son made a decision to follow Christ at the age of three and a half. Then he asked the question is that even possible (you can read about it and my answer @ http://amsterdamasp.blogspot.com/2005/11/what-do-you-think.html)? So I started thinking and I was reminded of how simple and yet how entirely deep and complex the gospel really is. If a 3 and a half year old can accept the gospel it must be pretty simple. A relationship with Christ simply put means we must acknowledge our shortcomings and failures; recognize Jesus' role in allowing us to be clean and pure in front of God; and then make a decision to follow Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

In some ways that is so simple, but it is also so complex. I have to believe the last part is the hardest for most of us, to recognize Christ is one thing, but to follow Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. That is not so easy, it means sacrifice, it means making tough decisions, it means dying to our own desires and living for His, it even means being uncomfortable at times.

But, when you make that decision there is not greater joy then knowing that you are child of the God of the universe. That all of your sins have been washed away and you stand pure before Him. That no matter what you do God is for you. That is the gospel and that is something worth living for.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~Romans 8:38-39