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OPEN EYES
Author’s Note by JQuisumbing
I love telling stories of Jesus Christ. Voice from the Cross is the product of my creative writing based on the Bible. But it is still a work of fiction and by no means are the tales that were woven in my imagination a substitute for the Holy Bible. I hope and pray that this mini-story would inspire you to open the ‘Real Thing’… the Word of God…
The Holy Bible
As it is written, the Bible is perfect, refreshing the soul. The Bible of the Lord is trustworthy, making wise the simple.(Psalm 19:7) And oh boy, I truly needed refreshing and a lot of wisdom. You see, during my early days, I was ruled by SIN. If I was to describe it here, then this would not be called a booklet anymore. So, in a nutshell, my early life was of me being tossed back and forth like a ship with no rudder on a stormy sea; and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of others in their deceitful scheming. (Ephesians 4:14) Of course, I was unaware of my spiritual dilemma back then until the Lord opened my eyes to the Bible in 1990. When He did, it was truly an eye opener. And I must share, at least, the basics with you.
EYE OPENER 1: God’s Intention
GOD loves us all & HE desires that we have eternal life.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)
More importantly, GOD desires all of us to be with HIM. But there is bad news!
EYE OPENER 2: Sin Problem
Because of SIN, we all are separated from GOD. You see, only those who are as HOLY as Him can be with Him in eternity. Why?
“There is no righteous person, not even one.” (Romans 3:10)
Since WE all have sinned… WE fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
But that is not the worst part. Because of sin, we are confronted with this inescapable consequence – DEATH PENALTY.
“For the wages of sin is death, …” (Romans 6:23)
Meaning: because of sin, death is earned and deserved. There is no other way to interpret it.
What happens when someone dies in sin?
And just as it is destined for people to die once, and after this comes judgment… (Hebrews 9:27)
But for the cowardly, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and sexually immoral persons, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8)
Earlier I said that this penalty was inescapable. Maybe, there is a solution to this problem, you would think. If there is a solution…
- It is not because you belong to a particular RELIGION;
- Nor could you buy your way in through GOOD WORKS;
- Nor could your sense of GOOD MORALS hide your sinfulness.
Don’t lose HOPE! There is…
EYE OPENER 3: Good News
JESUS CHRIST is GOD’S only way to ETERNAL LIFE!
Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)
He was not boasting!
And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved. [Acts 4:12]
Why Only Jesus? HE COMPLETELY PAID THE PENALTY OF OUR SINS. How?
For Christ also suffered for sins once for all time, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God… (1 Peter 3:18)
Why did God let Jesus die?
God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
EYE OPENER 4: Our Part
Jesus did His part. God wants you to do your part.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in Me will live, even if he/she dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25,26)
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8,9)
GOD PROMISED THAT YOU CAN KNOW TODAY THAT YOU HAVE ETERNAL LIFE WHEN YOU TRUST IN JESUS.
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:13)
You are now facing the fork on the road. The choice is yours. If you believe… then use this prayer as a guide.
EYE OPENER 5: Assurances
If you have just trusted Jesus Christ, then the following things have happened to you:
YOUR ETERNAL LIFE WITH GOD BEGINS TODAY.
“This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.” (John 6:40)
ALL OF YOUR SINS ARE PAID FOR AND FORGIVEN. (Past, Present, and Future Sins)
“He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13–14)
YOU BECAME A CHILD OF GOD.
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name…” (John 1:12)
YOU ARE A NEW PERSON IN GOD’S EYES.
“So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
FINAL NOTE
READ THE BIBLE
This is how God wants you to get to know more about Him.
GET TOGETHER WITH OTHER BELIEVERS TO GROW
Do you remember what the Storyteller told the Praetorian Guard at the end of HEARD & BELIEVED?
“Praetorian… You need more understanding. Go! Seek out other believers and learn from them God’s words and be blessed.”
I encourage you to follow the advice and live life the way the Lord intended.
Johann Quisumbing 