How to Find Peace

My friends, listen to these words. In the beginning (long ago) there were no people, no earth, no sky, no trees, no animals. There was nothing but God. He alone existed. God created the sun and stars, the earth and all things on the earth. (God did not have to work to make them. He only spoke and they were made.) Last of all He made one man. His name was Adam. God made a woman for the man and her name was Eve.

Adam and Eve were good. They were friends with God and they were very happy. They listened to God and obeyed Him. After a time the chief of the evil spirits came to the beautiful garden God had made for Adam and Eve. His name is Satan. Satan knew God had told Adam and Eve they must die if they disobeyed Him. But Satan said to Adam and Eve, "You will not die." They listened to Satan and they disobeyed God. Sin entered their hearts (their hearts became bad) and they were afraid. That is how sin and fear and sickness and death came into the world. Since that time all people have sinned, and had sorrow and sickness. They have not had peace in their hearts. God loved Adam and Eve, and God still loves us all. But God is holy. He hates sin and evil. God was sorry that Adam and Eve had sinned. Sin had spoiled them and they could not come to Him with happiness. Their sin was like a great wall keeping them from God. God told Adam and Eve that payment must be made for their sin. If payment was not made, they would have to die and go to the place of fire where Satan will be punished.

Here is a wonderful thing! God loved Adam and Eve so much that He told them He Himself would make a payment for them. He said that He would send His only Son, Jesus, to make the payment. Jesus and God are one. Jesus would become the sacrifice to pay for the sins of all people. He would die by shedding His blood for them. God told Adam and Eve that Jesus would not come for many years, but if they would believe and do what He told them they could have peace again.

Then He told them what to do. God said, "You must sacrifice a lamb. (shed the blood)". He told them that the blood of the lamb would have no power, but it would show that they were remembering that Jesus would make the final payment. It would show that they believed God and were trying to obey Him. God promised Adam and Eve that they and their descendants would have peace if they did this. All those who believed God did what He told them to do and their hearts were filled with peace.

Many years later God sent His Son. He was born a baby and grew to be a man. He was truly man, and He was truly God. His name is Jesus Christ. He did no wrong. He did not sin one time. Wicked men hated Him. Jesus allowed them to kill Him. In this way He received the punishment and He made the payment for sin. Jesus shed His blood in order to free us from sin and save us from having to go to the place of punishment.

Because He was God, His life returned to Him. He rose from death and went back to live with His Father. He is there now. When Jesus died, it was the perfect sacrifice. Because He was without sin, His blood could pay for our sin. Now God does not want us to make any more sacrifices, because Jesus made the perfect sacrifice. You must trust in Jesus only. Then you too will have peace. Then you will not have to go to the fire where Satan and all evil spirits will go. My friends, many people do not know this good news. They are still making sacrifices and trying to pay for their sins. Some pay money. Some shed blood. Some do good deeds. It is all worthless. God will not accept any of it. The only payment is the one Jesus made. Trust in Jesus and you will have peace. God will forgive your sins and give you eternal life, if you ask Him. You can talk to Him right now.