The Bridge Illustration

God desires that we experience an abundant life. This would include such things as love, peace, purpose, and fulfillment. He also desires that we experience both abundant life now and eternal life with Him.

But we have a problem. God did not create us to act like robots who would automatically love and have fellowship with Him in return. He gave us a will and the freedom of choice. Therefore, not only do we have the ability to make good choices, but we also have the ability to make evil choices and sin.

Each of us will die physically, and after we die physically, we will face judgment. So we see that when we look at the condition of a person apart from God, it isn't very encouraging. We have all sinned at one time or another, and the penalty of sin is eternal death (separation from God). Also we see that as a consequence of our sin we will face God's judgement.

In spite of the fact that we have turned our backs on God and have disobeyed Him, He has provided a remedy so that we can know Him personally. He wants to give us both abundant life and eternal life. Only one bridge can cross the gulf that exists between a person and God, and that bridge is Jesus Christ, through His death on the cross. God sacrificed His Son to pay the price for all of our sins. Jesus conquered death and is the way for anyone to come to God.

Christ has made it possible for us to cross over to God's side and experience the full life that He wants us to have. But we are not automatically on God's side. Real belief in Christ results in a response on our part. The instruction in John 1:12 is that we must believe in Him and receive Him. Often this is expressed through prayer and accompanied by a growing sense of God's love and forgiveness. Those who believe in Jesus will not be condemned and are assured of eternal life.