I
really like this sign both for its succinctness and accuracy. And
that teeshirt he is wearing compliments the message perfectly. And
the best part is that this young man doesn’t have to say a word.
So, no one can twist his message into something that will distort it
into meaninglessness. The Bible says:
1
Corinthians 15 ( World English
Bible )
[1] Now I declare to you, brothers, the Good News which I
preached to you, which also you received, in which you also stand,
[2] by which also you are saved, if you hold firmly the word which I
preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
[3] For I delivered to you first of all that which I also
received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
[4] that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according
to the Scriptures, [5] and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the
twelve. [6] Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once,
most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep. [7]
Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, [8] and last of
all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also.
Some
things everyone will agree on: The fact that life is short and that
all human beings will die (common sense will tell you these things).
If you think about it, there is a certain basic knowledge of right
and wrong in almost everyone. Murder and extreme torture are a couple
of examples that come to mind. Only the most wicked human beings
would accept these things as being OK. Societies have collectively
codified this basic knowledge of right and wrong into laws to
reflect their moral understandings.
But,
what if governments make a bad law? What if they make a law which
approves of something like murder. The Germans did and the Jews were
mass murdered. America has, and millions of aborted babies are the
result. It is a fact that humans can be and often are wrong. So, what
do we do about this- we look for an absolute standard; one that is
infallible and perfect. To do this we need to turn to God. He has
provided a way to live, act and think that is perfect. But the sad
fact is, that people will break his laws and the consequence is
death. This failure to not obey what God has told us to do The Bible
refers to as sin. God sent his son Jesus to supply the remedy for
sin. His blood covers our transgressions. Jesus’ resurrection from
the dead proves that there can be life after death, so only a foolish
person would refuse to accept his gift. In other words, as the sign
says: Jesus saves. Speaking of other words, I have always loved the
first Gospel (the good news of Jesus sacrifice) sermon. The apostle
Peter says…
Acts
2 ( WEB )
[22] ”Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man
approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which
God did by him in the midst of you, even as you yourselves know, [23]
him, being delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge
of God, you have taken by the hand of lawless men, crucified and
killed; [24] whom God raised up, having freed him from the agony of
death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it. [25]
For David says concerning him, ‘I saw the Lord always before my
face, For he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved. [26]
Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced. Moreover my
flesh also will dwell in hope; [27] because you will not leave my
soul in Hades* or, Hell, neither will you allow your Holy One to see
decay. [28] You made known to me the ways of life. You will make me
full of gladness with your presence.’
[29] ”Brothers, I may tell you freely of the patriarch David, that
he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
[30] Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with
an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh,
he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, [31] he foreseeing
this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was his
soul left in Hades* or, Hell, nor did his flesh see decay. [32] This
Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses. [33] Being
therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from
the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this,
which you now see and hear. [34] For David didn’t ascend into the
heavens, but he says himself, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit by
my right hand, [35] until I make your enemies a footstool for your
feet.”’ [36] ”Let all the house of Israel therefore know
certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom
you crucified.”
[37] Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and
said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall
we do?” [38] Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every
one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins,
and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. [39] For the
promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off,
even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.” [40] With
many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save
yourselves from this crooked generation!” [41] Then those who
gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day
about three thousand souls. [42] They continued steadfastly in
the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread,
and prayer.
The
facts: Jesus offers a way out of our sin problem (which leads to our
eternal death). How we respond to those facts is enumerated in verses
37 and following.
Now,
this is a lot to consider, but once you do, I think you will once
again think of the message of the above picture and determine to do
something about your life.
My
answer:
Accept
the gift, do what you must to obey and then live forever.
Yours is....