As I travel the Southwest City area I see large signs nailed to fence post with Bible scripture references on them. One of these is John 3:16. Often we see someone in the bleachers at a baseball or football games holding up a sign bearing that Bible verse. Children who attend church, especially the Sunday School hour, are taught and encouraged to memorize John 3:16.

This is one of the best loved and remembered verses in the Bible. It has been referred to as “The Gospel in a nutshell,” because it contains God’s entire plan for salvation.  “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

Roger R. Sonnenberg, in his devotion, “Tell Me Quickly—I’m Dying,” relates a story from one of Billy Graham’s speeches to college students. “Billy Graham tells a powerful story of something that happened as he addressed a large college assembly in California. Throughout the first part of his speech there were catcalls and derogatory remarks from the students; however, there was silence when he started to tell the story of a college student, a girl, who had been in a car accident. The girl’s mother was informed that the injuries were such that the girl would more than likely die within a few days. The mother rushed to her daughter’s bedside. As she held her daughter’s hand, the young woman said, ‘Mother, you taught me how to hold a cocktail glass. You taught me how to have safe sex, but you never taught me how to die. Teach me quickly because I’m dying. What happens to me when I die?’”

The answer is found only in God’s Word. Jesus Himself gave the best example when He told about the rich man and Lazarus.  (Luke 16:19-31) It is worth your reading.

“For God so loved the world that He gave…” Jesus was given for the purpose of dying on the cross. The apostle Peter said, “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you are healed.” (I Peter 2:24) Redemption was completed at Calvary. By God’s grace we are saved through faith.  (Ephesians 2:8)

Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you. He who hears My Word and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and is not condemned.”(John 5:24) The moment a person commits their life to Christ Jesus in faith, they receive the gift of eternal life, and he or she “has crossed over from death to life.”— Eternal life.  Jesus describes this to Nicodemus as being “born again.”

Perhaps you have read some in the Bible or books about the Christian life but still have not committed your life to Christ Jesus. In reality, your walk with God begins with such a commitment on your part to Him. The apostle Paul tells you how to make that commitment. “If you will confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness and with the mouth confession is made, resulting in salvation.” (Romans 10:9,10)

Prayer:  Lord, create in me a desire to search the Scripture diligently that I may discover Your great love for me through Christ Jesus.