According to Google, there are over 4,000 different religions in the world today. You talk about options! You can choose to worship and believe in everything from yourself, to a statue, to an animal – your options are endless. So knowing all this, why would someone choose to believe and accept Jesus as their savior? Why would a person entrust their life and future -even after death- to God almighty? I can tell you my experience, and just a few of the reasons I chose Him 19 years ago.
Rest for my soul.
As a person who never had a personal relationship with Christ, I used to fear many things. I had a fear of death for sure. I wondered what would happen after I died. I would also fear simple things like being alone, failure, not being liked, losing someone close to me, etc. My soul felt like it was in a constant state of unrest. Not a peaceful life, for sure. The difference was evident when I would spend time with true Christians. They just seemed more joyful, less stressed. And even when they went through hard times their response to those stressors was much different than I had witnessed in myself and others before.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27
These words were spoken by Jesus Christ himself. He truly provides a peace that is often indescribable. Do I still go through hard times? Yes. Are there situations I wish I didn’t have to deal with in life? Of course! But I have someone who goes through them with me, even when physically I am alone. ~Do you wish you had this kind of peace?
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7
Eternal life with Him in heaven…not dependent on my works.
So many false religions require the believer to be enough, or do enough to qualify for salvation. And even then, when you die, there would be no certainty that you have truly done all you could to secure your “ticket” to glory!
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Romans 3:10
I realized in my failures and flaws there would never be enough I could do to earn heaven. There had to be a better way! On my own I would continually fall short. The fact of the matter is, we aren’t condemned or sinners because of bad things we do, or mistakes we make. It’s simply because a curse was placed on Adam in the garden of Eden years and years ago because of his disobedience to God. And there is only one remedy for this curse of a sin nature… That remedy is a full trust, or faith in Christ and repentance (or changed heart) and desire to live for Him!
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Romans 10:10
The Bible just makes sense.
Genesis 1 contains the truth about how everything came into existence. Genesis 3 explains why we are the way we are. The entire Old Testament contains historical, geographical and prophetical truths that have all come to pass. The New Testament likewise, as well as some prophecy that has yet to come to fruition. The New Testament also contains the record of Christ’s birth, life on Earth, death, and resurrection three days later. (By the way, He is the only savior who has died and resurrected. All other gods are still dead in a grave somewhere.)
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 14:6
He loves like nobody else.
We all just want to be loved, and accepted for who we are. Jesus loves you more than anybody else ever will. In fact, he created you to be just who you are.
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
Jeremiah 1:5
He loved us so much he died on a cruel cross to pay the debt for our sin-curse. He came just to be the payment for our sin. ~Are you curious about his love for you?
The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
Jeremiah 31:3
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1 John 4:10