One Came Back

Some time ago, I had a conversation with a fellow-countryman. The subject was the Word of God in the Holy Scriptures and its meaning for us, but above all, the importance of the Person of the Lord Jesus. This man belonged, as he said, to the church and intended to stay with the church. He had followed in the way of his parents and also wanted to stay with this tradition.

However, during our conversation, I realised more and more that he had almost no idea about the great truths in the Word of God, and that he actually had possessions, money, and in general, a carefree life as the goal for his life, but no living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

This was confirmed to me when he suddenly said, "What does it actually mean - God, Jesus Christ and eternal life? Who ever went to the other side and came back again and can tell us if it's all true or not?" Unfortunately, this fellow-countryman isn't the only one who has such thinking. I meet many others who think the same way. Often I hear them say: "There is nothing else after death. For many people, being here in this world is paradise, and for others it is hell."

Everyone who thinks this way, forgets that someone from God's world, that is, from "the other side," really did come into our world. He told us what we should do in order to become children of God and heirs of His Kingdom. This someone is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself, the Son of the Living God.

In the Gospel of John, chapter 5, verse 13, the Lord Jesus says the following: "No one has ever gone into heaven except the One who came from heaven - the Son of Man". (NIV) There are simple, but real proofs that the Lord came from the presence of God to this earth, and that after His death on the cross and His resurrection, He returned to the invisible presence of God. Such a proof is the manner in which we measure time in our world. We live in the twentieth century after Christ. This "after Christ" should be considered more carefully.

Because Jesus Christ was once a person in the history of mankind, and is the only one who came from the invisible world of God, because of his teaching and everything that happened such as His completely unjust crucifixion, His resurrection, and His ascension into heaven, it is for all of these reasons that man measures time on the earth in relation to the point in time when Jesus Christ lived.

So it is wrong for many people to think that no one has come from the "other side" to us on this earth. In the Word of God, in the Holy Scriptures, it is clearly stated that the Lord Jesus indeed did leave God's glory and came into our world in order to show man the way to his salvation and final redemption. Apart from that, it is also written in many places in the Holy Scriptures, that the Lord Jesus, after His resurrection, showed Himself to the close circle of His disciples as well as to other people, even over 500 of them, who had already believed on Him as the Son of God and their personal Saviour.

The Apostle Paul wrote, for example, in his first letter to the Corinthians, in chapter 15, verses 3 to 8, the following: "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, He appeared to more than five hundred of the brethren at the same time, most of whom are still living. Though some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all He appeared to Me also, as to one abnormally born." (NIV)

For this reason, dear listener, if you have not yet believed in the existence of a living God, you should know that this is the greatest mistake of your life. It is time for you too, to believe in the existence of the Living God, the God Who created and directs everything. Of course, He is in control of your life, whether you like it or not.

If, however, you believe in the existence of the living God and hope that you will be with Him after you die, then consider this now: Upon what do you base your hope? Perhaps because you belong to the church? Or do you think maybe you will go to be with God because you have been baptised, or because you don't do anything bad to other people, but rather do good? To the contrary, none of these things is the valid pass which you certainly must have so that you will be let into the Kingdom of God.

Perhaps it seems a bit strange to you that you need a valid pass so you can get into heaven, but that is truly the case. You should make sure you have a valid pass to get into heaven, and this based on the Word of God in the Holy Scriptures.

I am very much aware of many Greeks who think that because they belong to the church they will be accepted into heaven. According to the Word of God, however, no one is saved because he belongs to the church and does what the church requires, or because he believes in some religion.

And now, dear listener, please note carefully who will be saved and be accepted by God into His glorious world. This was said of Him Who came from God's world, who came from the "other side," the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the True and Living God. We can read it in the Gospel of John, Chapter 3, verse 16, "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." (NIV)

On the basis of God's will for man, true faith is our conscious and close relationship to the Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. So you should, dear listener, give very careful attention to the Word that you have heard: these who are not lost are those who believe on the Son of God, Jesus Christ. These people will have eternal life. The word "believe," dear listener, means that even you should love and trust the Lord Jesus Christ with all your heart.

When the Lord Jesus gave His life on the cross on Golgotha, out of love for mankind, He also thought of you personally and wants you too, to be saved forever. So repent, and turn over your life to the Lord Jesus. Ask Him through His Holy Spirit to come into your heart. You may do this if you want to, with a simple prayer such as follows:

"My God, it is true that until now I have not lived according to your will, but rather have determined my life myself. I thank You that You gave Your Son, Jesus Christ, as the Sacrifice on the cross on Golgotha, for my sinful life and all of my sin, and that He has also become my Saviour. Dear Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and take control of my life. Change me and make me to be the person You intended me to be. I thank you, Lord Jesus, that You see my heart and according to my faith, you will hear my prayer. Amen."

I am sure, dear listener, that if you pray earnestly to God, He will hear your prayer. You will then receive the spiritual pass to heaven, and He will help you to live in the right way. The Lord Jesus Himself promises it to us in His Word, as we read in the Gospel of John, chapter 6, verse 37, "...and whoever comes to Me I will never drive away." (NIV)

For this reason, dear listener, you should not wait any longer. This is the most important decision of your life. Let the Lord Jesus into your heart and life. He is really from the other side, from the world of God, and came to earth to take even you to God.