This is how the story begins. The first pages of the Bible tell us that God created human beings “in His own image.” He made Adam and Eve (the first humans) His very own children—the main characters in His story—and gave them the most satisfying life imaginable. He told them to rule over the whole earth on His behalf and expand His family, while enjoying a close relationship with Him. 

And back then, everything that God had created was “very good.” The environment was a real-life paradise with no hardships, no sickness, no suffering, no death, no natural disasters, no war. Everything was perfect. 

Could humans have asked for a better life than this—reigning over the entire planet, procreating, and knowing God personally, all in a perfect environment? Only a loving God could create such a happy existence for us to enjoy. 

But what went wrong? Why do we live in a world far different from the one God created for us?

By choosing to disobey God, they forfeited the perfect, endless life that He had given them. Even worse, they plunged humanity into an endless cycle of rebellion and death. You see, all of Adam and Eve’s descendants—including us—have inherited this awful tendency to rebel against God.

Though we are aware of God’s laws, which are written in the Bible and on the human conscience (we’re all born with a God-given sense of right and wrong), we break His rules repeatedly. The Bible puts it like this, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). In other words, our rebellion keeps us from living the glorious life that we were designed to enjoy. This is why our lives are mediocre at best and miserable at worst. You wouldn’t expect a polar bear to enjoy living in the desert because he wasn’t designed for a hot climate. Yet, humans convince themselves that they can live contrary to God’s design for them and be just fine. This foolish rebellion against God is the cause of all our unhappiness. Broken relationships, crime, suffering, and every kind of evil come from this same source. And we cannot fix the situation on our own. So, what is the solution? 

Our rebellion against God doesn’t just make us unhappy—it makes God unhappy. And just like any good judge must enforce the law on criminals, the Holy and Righteous Judge of the Universe must judge sinners. The Bible puts it this way: “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). That means, in God’s courtroom, we deserve to die for our sins. Even worse, every sinner is destined for “the lake of fire” after death. The Bible says, “But the fearful, and unbelieving [those who reject Jesus], and the abominable [those who are guilty of pride and any other sin that is sickening to God], and murderers, and whoremongers [those who engage in sexual sin], and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8). 

Now, if we think God’s judgment is unfair, we prove that we are inconsistent creatures. If someone abuses us, steals from us, or lies to us, we demand justice. We expect kidnappers, murderers, and thieves to be sent to prison. But then we expect God to give us a free pass for our crimes against Him! It does not work that way. God does not adapt His justice to suit our beliefs. He is perfectly just; therefore, He cannot allow sin to go unpunished. And no amount of good deeds on our part can erase the list of crimes we have committed against Him.

 But here’s the good news. God sent His Son—the Lord Jesus Christ—to take our punishment upon Himself. The Bible says, “God commendeth [demonstrated] His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Even though we have all rebelled against God and deserve His judgment, He has never stopped loving us. He was so intent on bringing us back into His story—into a close relationship with Him—that He sent His perfect Son to die for our sins. Jesus satisfied His Father’s demand for justice—He bore the punishment for humanity’s rebellion. Then He arose from the grave, victorious over sin and death itself! 

He is alive today, and He is inviting you back into God’s story—everything that Adam and Eve lost when they sinned against God, Jesus wants to give back to you. You can have your sins forgiven and washed away. You can receive God’s gift of eternal life, so that the end of your life on earth is not the end of your story, so that death is not a tragic ending for you, but rather a new beginning—a gateway to spending eternity with God in heaven. 

But how do you accept Jesus’ invitation? How do you become part of His story?

Just like with Adam and Eve, God lets you choose your destiny. Here are your options:

1. You can comply to the terms of God’s perfect story by believing in Jesus and accepting His gift of everlasting life.

                                                               OR

2. You can live in disbelief, choosing to write your own story that will end in certain death and eternal separation from the God who loves you. 

The choice is yours, and God has not made it difficult. Just believe and let God become the Author of your story. Now, you might ask, How exactly do I “believe” in Jesus?

1. 1. Admit that you have broken God’s laws and deserve His judgment. 
   2. Repent: recognize that your way of living is wrong, that your story is messed up and headed for a disastrous ending; admit that you need God to rewrite your story.
   3. Call on the Lord Jesus to save you.

The Bible says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus [profess that Jesus is Lord], and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved…for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:9, 13). 

You don’t have to try to be the hero of your story. Jesus wants to be your Hero, and so much more. Just trust in Him, and let His story transform your story.  Let Him give you that relationship with God that you were created to enjoy.

If you just prayed to let Jesus into your life, you have found true peace and satisfaction. Your life will never be the same!