Where did everything come from?
How was life formed?
What is the meaning of life?
What happens when I die?
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I DIE???
These are questions we all ask at some point. They are important questions to find answers for, but many people are unwilling to see the truth.
Why?
What truth are people unwilling to see?
The origin of all things and all people is clear. It is evident in everything that see can perceive in the world. It is undeniable when examined without letting our pride get in the way.
"The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands."
Psalm 19:1 (NASB)
"...that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse."
Romans 1:19-20 (NASB)
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void...Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night...Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures...Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness...God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good..."
Genesis 1 (NASB)
The truth is that God created everything. It is obvious if you don't let your feeling get in the way. The problem that people have, the thing that people don't want to see, is:
If there is a God,
then
they don't get to make the rules.
If there is an almighty creator of everything, then He makes the rules about what is right and wrong. That means truth is not subjective, it is absolute. We don't get to redefine the definitions if we don't like what we hear.
People don't like being told "NO!"
Anyone who has ever raised children knows this. As a parent there are many times when you just know more than the child. As a parent you set the rules and watch for dangers in order to protect your child from harm and teach them how to be a mature responsible adult. This, in many ways, mirrors what God does for us. We think we know enough to make good decisions, but He knows SO much more than we ever could. We rebel against His authority but fail to see that He only wants the best for us.
So, God makes the rules. Now what?
When you break the law and you get caught, there is a penalty? You have to pay a fine, lose some privileges, and could go to jail (or worse). These all happen in the courts instituted by man to enforce laws made by man. Sometimes you get caught. Sometimes you do not get caught.
When you break God's law, you ALWAYS get caught. God sees everything that happens. He does not miss anything. When it comes time to face the penalty for the crime, payment must be made. God is the judge in the case and will not let offences go unpunished.
But here is the good news:
God made a way for your crimes to be forgiven.
God loves us. He wants the best for us. But, He can not let crimes go unpunished, so He chose to suffer the punishment for you himself.
Imagine that your father is the Judge for the town you live in. The police haul you in front of him and present undeniable evidence of a crime that you committed. He must convict you and sets a fine for the offense. That is his job as Judge for the town. It is his duty. But he is also your father and wants to forgive you so he offers to pay your fine for you out of his own pocket, not because of what you have done, but because of who you are. He wants to show you mercy, but it is up to you to accept it.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16 (NASB)
" The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9 (NASB)
You might think that you have not done anything wrong and therefore need no forgiveness.
"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23 (NASB)
"as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one; There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one.” " Romans 3:10-12 (NASB)
You might think that the good things you have done will outweigh the bad and balance the scales.
"...the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God." Romans 8:7-8
You can not balance the scales. You can not earn your way into Heaven. Even if you only sinned once, that would be enough to demand punishment. There is only one way into Heaven. Payment must be made.
"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
There has only ever been one perfect person, Jesus. He is God in Human form. He came to Earth as a baby born to Joseph and Mary. He lived a perfect, sinless life. And He died a criminal's death on a cross. He paid the price that is demanded of sinners.
"...the wages of sin is death..." Romans 6:23
If that were the end of the story, then it would be a sad one indeed, But that is not the end.
Jesus, the Messiah, the promised savior of the world died on that cross with a spear stuck through his side by a Roman soldier to prove it. He was buried and sealed inside a tomb with a gigantic stone blocking the entrance and guards outside. His body laid there dead but on the third day Jesus came back to life. He was seen by hundreds of people who knew Him. His own disciples who knew him best were skeptical at first, one even demanded to see and touch the wounds in Jesus's hands an side. After this there was NO doubt among the Disciples that it really was Jesus.
Jesus Died to pay for Our Sins. He offers this payment to God for our sins if we choose to accept it. This is the one and only way into Heaven.
"Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."" John 14:6 (NASB)
We don't deserve forgiveness, we can't earn it, but it is offered as a gift
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB)
If you choose to accept this forgiveness then
"Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death." Romans 8:1-2 (NASB)
"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB)
Why did I go through all the trouble of typing this out? Because, believe it or not, I Love you. I want you to be forgiven of your sins. I want to see you in Heaven. I want to do everything that God wants of me here on Earth so when I time comes to see him face to face he will say
"‘...Well done, good and faithful servant!..." Matthew 25:21 (NIV)