Every single human being is guaranteed death, unless the Lord returns first. Such a sure event ought to compel us to prepare for it. Hebrews 9:27 tells us, “…it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment…” When we die, we will be judged by God. The problem for mankind is that we are all lawbreakers of divine law; as Romans 3:23 tells us, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” God will not judge on a curve, nor will he put our deeds on a scale to see whether our good deeds outweigh our bad. He will judge us according to His standard of righteousness, which we all have transgressed. Therefore we are all deserving of condemnation before God and an eternity in hell.

But God has provided a way of escape. This is the gospel, or good news, of Jesus Christ. God condescended to us in the person of Jesus Christ to live a life of perfect righteousness, die a sacrificial death in the place of sinners, rise on the third day, and ascend to heaven where he sits now, interceding for his people. It is only those who repent, or turn from their lives of sin, and trust in Christ alone to save them, who will be saved from the wrath to come. As John 3:16 famously puts it, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” This is the question Paul and Silas were asked in Acts 16 by a man who was sure to die, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Their response? “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved…”

Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” The way of salvation is exclusive; it is only found in the Lord Jesus Christ. As Jesus said again in Matthew chapter 7, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Jesus Christ himself is the gate and the way of salvation. All other paths lead only to eternal destruction. Salvation is not something we can attain to on our own. It is not something that we earn, deserve, or merit in any way. It is only by grace that we are saved, as Ephesians 2 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Jesus has done everything necessary to save us. Trust in him today.