There are three statements in the Bible which are especially sobering:

1. one day we will be judged for the way we have lived (see 2 Corinthians 5:10),
2. all of us have fallen short of God’s mark (see Romans 3:23), and
3. our just and fair wage of living short of God’s perfect standard is death (Romans 6:23)

Thankfully, this is not the way it has to be! The Bible also says that God sent His Son Jesus to save the world and the one who believes in Jesus will not be condemned, but will enjoy eternal life (John 3:16-17). Through His death and resurrection, Jesus made a way for imperfect man to be reconciled with the Perfect God. Thus, “where we stand with God” is determined by our response to Jesus Christ.

In the pantheon of faiths, only Jesus Christ offers an exclusive invitation (John 8:23-4) to those who would seek salvation. Jesus said “No man comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

But what does it mean to say one “believes Jesus”? It means acknowledging that:

1. Christ died on the cross in punishment for my sins,
2. on the third day He rose from the grave, and
3. in believing these facts, God’s righteousness is imputed to me (Romans 4:24).

How we respond to this good news (or gospel) determines whether or not we will be saved from God’s righteous judgment. The most important thing in the world is to know that our sins are forgiven and that we have been “made right” in God’s eyes. Jesus is the only one who offers legitimate protection from eternal judgment. If we try to earn God’s forgiveness some other way, (e.g., by doing good deeds), it is the same as saying that Jesus’s sacrifice is insufficient. But if we reject God’s Son now, one day God will reject us totally and finally. Only the blood of Jesus, spilled on the cross, can wash us whiter than snow.

If you are not looking forward to meeting your Maker, something is wrong. If you harden your heart towards God, you are in effect storing up for yourself God’s righteous anger which will be unleashed on that Day (Romans 2:5). But to the honest and hungry heart, God reaches across time and space and says, “You will seek me and find me, when you search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).