Have you ever had a bad day?

Who hasn't had a bad day! No matter how much we try to make the day go well, some how or another trouble comes our way. I often make the statement, who doesn't have problems... everyone has problems, no one is without their own personal burdens to carry, some know how to deal with them then others.

The first step to dealing with problems that come our way is to acknowledge that there are many things in life that we have no control over. For example, we can't stop the sun from rising each morning, nor the moon from appearing at night. We can't stop time from ticking nor can we go back in time. In the same way, when problems or as I call them "The storms of life" come our way, we can be sure that no matter how much we try to avoid them, they are sure to strike.
So what do you do when the storm clouds come rolling in? What is your response? We really have a choice to make when faced with such trials. We can run and hide and pretend that the storm won't hit, or we acknowledge the storm and go through it. But how do we overcome such storms in our lives - is it possible to overcome? Yes!

Many people fall victim to the storms of life because they didn't anticipate the fact that the storms of life can strike at anytime. Death for example is one storm that will strike all of us, no one can escape it. No amount of money can buy your way our of death - sooner or later it will strike, this again is something we have no control over, however we can speed up that process when we misuse our lives by bad eating habits to taking drugs, alcohol etc. A question that should be asked at this time is this: Why do we have to die?

To answer this question we have to go back to the beginning of creation, when God created the Heavens and the Earth and everything therein, including humans. God created everything in this world for us to enjoy. When God created the first humans Adam and Eve, He placed them in the Garden of Eden, they were free to eat of all the trees in the Garden, accept from the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. God said that in the day that they eat of that tree they should surely die.

So God gave Adam and Eve a commandment which they needed to obey. God being a loving God, gave them a free will, they simply needed to trust in God that He knew what's best for them and obey his commandment. However like all of us today, curiosity often gets the better of us, and as such Adam and Eve both ate of the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil. As a result Sin and Death entered the world through Adam and Eve.

What is Sin? Sin is basically disobedience to God. As a result of Adam and Eve's Sin in the Garden of Eden, Sin and death has been passed on from generation to generation. So through one man Adam, Sin and Death entered the world and therefore all have sinned. Sin is a spiritual disease that separates us from God. The wages or price of Sin is Death. So basically from the time we are born we are destined to die.

You might be wondering, well i'm still a good person, why should I die, I haven't murdered anyone! In order to Judge people fairly, God has given us a law by which to live - The 10 Commandments. By having one law for all human beings, we will be held accountable to God who will be our ultimate Judge and we all will have to give an account for how we lived our lives. This makes sense to, because everyone has different beliefs, moral standards by which they live. What I would consider bad, some may consider ok. For this reason God has provided us with His perfect law. So what we need to do is compare our lives to His Law to see how we fair up. The bible makes it clear that if we break just one of God's Laws, we have broken them all, infact the Bible goes on to say "For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God" Romans 3:23.

Do you know the 10 Commandments?
Have you ever told a lie?
Have you ever stolen?
Have you bowed down to Graven Images?
Have you committed adultery?
Have you coveted something that doesn't belong to you?

These are just some of the common things people do in the world, if you have done any of these things, even once, you are a law breaker and the price for breaking this law is Death.

The bible also tells us that there is an afterlife and there are two places we can spend our time in Eternity, Heaven or Hell. All sinners will go to Hell for all of Eternity. All saints will go to Heaven. The bible tells us Hell is a place of torment, a place of no rest, a place where the fire doesn't go out, where no water can be found to drink. Heaven is a place of rest, a place of peace and joy, a place where there is no suffering or tears, a place like no other.

I'm sure no one would want to go to such a place as Hell. Often people make the comment that we are in Hell here on Earth, but to be honest, Hell is much worse! Really if people could catch a glimpse of what Hell is really like, they would take death and the afterlife much more seriously.

Its easy in this day and age to be distracted with needless things that take up so much of our time like movies, sports, riches and pleasures that this world has to offer only to neglect things that matter most like where we will spend eternity when we die. I'm sure if the dead could speak, they would surely warn us of such a place as Hell and do all that they can to stop people from going there. But reality is it is up to us to read God Word - The Bible to know more about the afterlife and what we must do in order to be saved from a lost eternity in Hell.

Having stated the facts, I have some good news to share with you! The good news is that the price for the sins of the world has been paid in full by Jesus Christ - The Son of God, The Saviour of all mankind. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life" John 3:16.

Jesus was sent by the Father from heaven to earth to die on the cross and shed His blood for our sins. Only Jesus could do this, once for all. Just as through one man, Adam Sin and Death entered the world, so to through one man Jesus Christ, forgiveness of Sin and Eternal Life can also be received. The bible says "But God demonstrates His love for us in this - While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" Romans 5:8. Jesus paid the price for your sins and mine, He alone is worthy to pay such a price because He is the only person since the beginning of creation who was without Sin. So no amount of good works can save us, nor praying to any statue or sacrifice can save us from our Sins. Jesus Christ has paid the price for the sins of the world, once for all. All we need to do is receive His forgiveness by Faith:

1. Repent of all your sins,
2. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, that He Rose from the dead on the 3rd day,
3. Recieve Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour of your life,

You can pray a simple prayer from your heart as follows:

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I realize that I'm a sinner and repent of all my sins. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my heart and receive you as my personal Lord and Saviour of my life. Wash me and cleanse me from all Sin and unrighteousness in my life. I commit my life to you, make me the person you want me to be.

In Jesus Name Amen.

If you have prayed this prayer and meant it sincerely from your heart, you are now part of the family of God. Get yourself a bible and start reading through the scriptures. The more you meditate on the Word of God, the more you will grow spiritually. As you spend time with God in prayer and studying His Word, He will teach you and guide you on the plan He has for your life. Find other Christians who also love and follow Jesus Christ and share your faith with others and testify to what God has done for you.

God Bless you,

RisenTruth Ministries
http://www.risentruth.org