This was a true story. Oh, the setting was different, and it took place almost 2000 years before you were born, but you are involved in it just as certainly as if you were one of the hostages in the story.

In this story, you and the other hostages represent all the people in the world throughout history. The terrorists represent sin. "Flurice" is Lucifer, or Satan. And the quiet, unassuming man is the Lord Jesus Christ. Of course, this is not a perfect analogy of the gospel story, but it is a good example of what Jesus did for us, when He offered Himself in our place.

When Adam chose to disobey God, all of mankind from that point on, became hostage to sin. Adam, who was originally given dominion over the earth and all its creatures, turned that control over to Satan. The Bible says that Satan is the ruler of this world, the prince of the power of the air. We all share in Adam's sin. We are all held accountable for his action. The punishment for that disobediance is death, both physical and spiritual. This is true just as much for the person who takes a grape from the grocery store without paying, as it is for the worst murderer in history. With only one exception, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, no sin is any worse or any better than any other. The smallest sin separates us from God's perfection. Before Christ came and offered Himself as the final, perfect sacrifice for our sins, we had no hope of redemption. We were totally and absolutely cut off from God.

Christ changed all that. He didn't have to, but He did. He freely gave Himself over to death in our place. We didn't deserve it. He did it simply because He loved us. You and me individually, as well as the world as a whole. Now we have a way to be reconciled to God. No matter how we've lived in the past, no matter what we've done in the past, Christ still loved us enough to die for us. God knew what kind of people we would be before he ever sent His Son to earth for us. I'm sure you've all heard the verse, John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." This applies to YOU, my friend, just as much as it applies to me. I could just as easily rephrase it and say: For God so loved YOU, that He gave His only begotten Son, that if YOU would believe in Him, YOU should not perish, but have everlasting life.

If you've decided that you're tired of the uncertainty of life and what lies after, or if there's an empty space inside you that you just can't seem to fill, no matter how hard you try, perhaps you should give Jesus a chance. No matter what you've done in your past, He loves you and is asking you to accept Him into your life and into your heart. Christ says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." We also know that "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1John 1:9 Accept Him into your life today, and see what a difference it can make. No more emptiness, no more feeling alone, no more uncertainty. He will always be there for you, and will never turn His back on you.

If you've decided to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, then the first thing you need to do is pray. Many pages will give you what is called "the sinner's prayer," and there's nothing wrong with that. However, I feel that, while I can tell you what to pray about, and what to ask for, the specific words should be your own. This way you have to think about what you're saying, instead of just reading words from a piece of paper, or a computer screen. So, if you're ready, here's what you need to do:

Before praying:

• Realize and admit that you're a sinner, and have no way to save yourself from your sin.
• Believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross at Calvary for you as the only sacrifice that can cleanse you from your sin, was buried and rose again on the third day, and ascended to Heaven to prepare a place for those who believe in Him.

In your prayer to Jesus:

• Confess the fact that you're a sinner to Jesus.
• Repent of your sins, and ask the Lord Jesus to forgive you for your sins, and to wash you clean of your sins by His blood, which was shed for you.
• Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, and ask Him to come into your life and heart, and begin following Him.

After praying and for the rest of your walk with Christ:

• Believe that He is faithful to keep His word, and to save you from your sin and spiritual death, just as He promised in His word, the Bible.

If you've just done this, and if you were sincere, congratulations! You've just gained many brothers and sisters that are ready to rejoice with you, and you've just started a party in Heaven! In Luke 15:7, Jesus says, "I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in Heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance."

If you've just accepted Christ as your Lord and Saviour, or if you have some questions you need answered, please e-mail me so I can either rejoice with you over your new-found salvation, or answer any questions you may have about what I've said here today. May God bless you.