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What is better than a great year of major league baseball for our favorite team? This is: life in heaven with God forever! Imagine a life of perfect happiness forever: they will be His people and God himself will always be with them. He will wipe every tear away from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning, wailing, or pain... Revelation 21:3-4. God loves you and has a plan for your life. He wants you to live with Him forever in Heaven and also wants to give you a better life here on earth. As Jesus said, I have come that they might have life and have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)
No one is perfect. The Phillies' mascot isn't the only one that makes mistakes! Even all-star player commit errors. All have sinned (done something wrong). This sin separates us from living in the perfect presence of God. You see, nothing sinful can enter into the full presence of God. And we are all in the same situation: All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God Romans 3:23. We all sin, we all fall short of the mark of perfection. In baseball, even a Golden Glove award winner commits errors during the season. It's the same with us: in some way, big or small, we have fallen short of the mark of perfection. Our lives are marred with sin.
Getting into home: Having a catcher between you and home plate with the ball in his mit is a separation that is difficult to overcome. Overcoming the separation of sin is impossible, except for God!
According to the unofficial scripture of professional sports, John 3:16, God has given us a way back to Him: "For God so loved the world that He sent His only Son, so that whoever believes in Him will not die but may have eternal life." Jesus never sinned, yet He took the penalty for our sins so that our sins could be forgiven. Freed from sin, we can live in His presence in Heaven forever.
Now, it's up to you! God is offering you a free gift. Kind of like choosing between:
1. accepting an intentional walk to get the winning run in the bottom of the ninth OREveryone knows what choice to make then! This choice should be just as obvious:2. trying to swing at those intentional balls to hit one and improve your batting average.
1. either accept the forgiveness of God, live as His child and one day reign with Him in Heaven OR2. reject the truth of the Gospel and one day suffer in Hell for all of eternity.What is your choice? Will you accept Jesus as your Savior from sin?God promises that whoever believes in the Son has eternal life (John 3:36) and to as many as did accept Him, He empowered to become children of God. John 1:12
To accept Jesus as your Savior & Lord and begin a new life with God, pray this prayer: "Lord Jesus, I'm not perfect. I've done things that are wrong. I'm sorry, forgive me. Thank you for dying for my sins. Change my life & help me to live for you. Make me what you want me to be. Show me your beautiful plan for my life. Fill me with the power of your Holy Spirit. Fill my life with your love, peace, and joy. Amen.
