Daily Encounter: A Week-day Devotional by a staff of ACTS International.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."¹

In recent days, Joy, my wife, and I have faced some sobering times. For instance, a very good friend, still in the prime of life, last year lost his battle with cancer. Not that long afterwards we were shocked to learn that Joy (my wife) had breast cancer. Fortunately, following major surgery, she has healed and, confirmed by the medics, is cancer free. The point I am making, however, is this: "How do people without faith in God and peace with him handle situations like these?" At some point in life we all have to deal with crises in one form or another. And for each one of us there will come a time when we have to face our own immortality.

Imagine, if you will, that you are at the end of your life and are facing imminent death and are about to cross the great divide—from which there is no chance of ever returning—knowing that you have never made peace with God and are about to face him. As God has said, "Is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment."²

This would be absolutely tragic and totally unnecessary because life never has to end this way if you have made peace with God in the here and now. So how does one do this?

First, acknowledge the fact that in God's sight you are a sinner and have fallen short of his standard of holiness—without which one can never enter God's heaven nor survive in the presence of his infinite holiness. God's Word confirms that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory [standard] of God."³

Second, acknowledge the fact that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he left the "ivory palaces of heaven,"⁴ to come to earth as a man to identify with sinful mankind and die in your place on the cruel Roman cross to pay the just penalty for all your sins. As the Bible says, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."⁵

Third, acknowledge the fact that Jesus Christ is the only way into God's heaven. When Thomas, a disciple of Jesus, asked about the way to heaven, Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father [God] except through me."⁶ God's Word also says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast."⁷ Had there been any other way into God's heaven, Jesus Christ would never have had to come to earth clothed in a garment of human flesh to die in our place to pay the just penalty for all our sins.

Fourth, offer to God the following prayer of confession, faith, and repentance. Genuinely follow these simple steps and you will make and find peace with God.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please be merciful to me a sinner and forgive me for all my sins. I believe that Jesus Christ is your Son and that he died in my place to save me from the consequences of my sin which is eternal death and separation from you forever. And Jesus Christ please come into my heart and life as my personal Lord and Savior. I thank you, God, for giving your Son to die for me; and thank you Jesus for dying in my place to pay the just penalty for all my sins; and thank you God for your forgiveness, the gift of eternal life, and the gift of finding and making peace with you. With your help, I repent of (turn from) all sinful living to trust, obey, and serve you. So help me God. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."

If you genuinely prayed this prayer, or would just like to re-commit your life to Jesus Christ, please let us know and we will be happy to send you, without cost, further articles to help you in your Christian life. You can do this online at: http://tinyurl.com/pgntm.

For additional help to find Peace with God go to: http://tinyurl.com/find-peace, or to receive your "Passport for Heaven" go to: http://tinyurl.com/passport-heaven—whatever you do, don't leave earth without it. It comes without charge.

1. Romans 5:1 (NKJV).
2. Hebrews 9:27 (NKJV).
3. Romans 3:23 (NIV).
4. Psalm 45:8 (NKJV).
5. Romans 5:8 (NIV).
6. John 14:6 (NIV).
7. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV).

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