What are we to do?

Why does life seem so bleak at times, yet so joyful at others?

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Is there a God?

Does He care?

Who is Jesus Christ?

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What about Heaven?

Will I go there??

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So many of life's questions can seem unanswerable. We often feel despair, as though there is simply no point to any of it. I felt that way once. When a friend gave me a book called, "Joy That Lasts" by Gary Smalley, Harper Pub), I found out that I'd been seeking fulfillment in my life in things like possessions, other people, and even places. Time and again I was disappointed, because what I didn't realize is that there cannot be fulfillment as long as we believe we're all alone.

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Then came the question:

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"When Jesus died on the cross for your sins," my friend asked, "How many of them were in the FUTURE?"

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I sat, dumbstruck. ALL of the sins that Christ paid for on my behalf were in the future, of course. He didn't merely pay for SOME of my sins. He didn't utter to the Father before His death, "Only until 1995, will my blood cover her sins.." No, He paid for the sins that I will surely commit tomorrow, next week, and next year, too! My deeds here on earth can NEVER be good enough, but that is why MY representative in Heaven is JESUS! By HIS single deed of giving His life, I am made clean.

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It was the moment of knowing... the end of all doubt for me.. I WILL go to Heaven. I cannot mess it up for myself in my failing attempts to live a righteous life free of sin. God is not fickle. He doesn't hold my salvation on the end of a string, yanking it out of my grasp when I sin, and giving it back to me when I'm loving. He has GIVEN me the gift.. and I will embrace it for all eternity.

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He'll give YOU the gift, too, y'know. Just ask.

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