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Dear reader, have you considered what it means to love life?

To some, it may include happiness or a trouble-free existence; to some, it may require fame, good health, a good-paying job, or a family. We work hard for things we love. But have you considered this question with the thought of what’s next? As you look around, you may realize that having a stable job, money, or a good home is not guaranteed. Surely we know that we live in a world that is hurting—a world that is filled with misery, disasters, wars, pain, and suffering. And ultimately, we are faced with something that no one can elude: death. God says, “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27). You may want to avoid such a topic as death; maybe you are young and such thoughts are far from you. But friend, this is not something that can be avoided; we have no guarantee of how long we will live.

Did you know that you are more than what you see on the outside? You may lose a hand, but you are still you; you may lose your sight, but you are still you. Though your ability may be restricted, what defines you as a person has not changed. God says that you have a soul that is of great value. Jesus said, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36). And God says that your soul will live forever after your physical body dies.

Do you love life? Then friend, my question to you is: do you care for your soul? Do you care to know what happens after you die?

I am not speaking of religion; this is about a relationship. This is not what I think, but what God knows about you. He says, “the soul that sinneth, it shall die” (Eze. 18:4). Sin is what you think or do that is against what God says is right. God says, “Thou shalt not bear false witness” (Ex. 20:16), but you lie even by what you have excused as a white lie; God says, “to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17), but often you did not do what you should have done. Those are just two commands; we do wrong daily—much more than that. I plead with you, do not put this tract down or ignore it. For the love of your soul, please consider the following few statements. You may say, “I don’t believe in God.” But have you honestly contemplated how everything came into existence?

Consider this: When you open your eyes, the muscles around the lens in your eye perfectly adjust the thickness of your lens to get a proper image onto the retina. The retina, which is no thicker than the width of three sheets of paper, receives the light. This retina has around 127 million photovoltaic receptors. The information from these 127 million receptors is converted from light to electricity and is transmitted over a million nerve fibers to the brain. This is just a tiny portion of what really happens when the brain transforms it into an image you see as “sight.” I could go on to speak of the precision of the movement of the sun or the unique properties of life—from fish to flowers—which are not seen anywhere else in the universe. Where did they all come from? Who gave them the information to become what they are, and why do they follow a pre-determined pattern consistently year after year? “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God” (Psa. 14:1).

My friend, you were fearfully and wonderfully made (Psa. 139:14), created as the crown of God’s Creation, and God said it was very good (Gen. 1:31). But sin entered our world when Adam and Eve, our first parents, disobeyed God. And from that disobedience against a good God came sickness, pain, suffering, and death. God did not intend it to be this way; we chose it by our disobedience. “Wherefore, as by one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Rom. 5:12). In your disobedience, you have followed the same path as our first parents have done. And God says there is a penalty or wage for your sin, which is death (Rom. 6:23). This is not just the death we see all around us, but an eternal (forever) separation from God in a literal place called the lake of fire. “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:15).

My friend, sin is no small matter, and God hates it and those who commit it (Psa. 7:11, 9:17). He opposes it since He is holy (without sin) and cannot tolerate sin (iniquity). “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity” (Hab. 1:13). This is not about my opinion; you see it proved daily by the reality of death that you see all around you. Do you see that your sin has offended this good God who gave you life? Do you realize that sin has separated you from God and that it condemns you? Do you realize that God is in the right as a righteous judge to sentence you to this place of torment (suffering) for your sin (your punishment)? Do you see your condition as lost without hope? Would you consider the state you are in with all seriousness?

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jer. 17:9). The best you can do from your heart is only sinful. Your good works, going to church or temple, giving to the poor, being kind, getting baptized, or being confirmed—none of it can pay for your sin. “Following your heart” will not help you; religion will not help you; denying God exists will not help you. Two thousand years ago, God, who loved you, came in the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ. He came as God in human flesh, born of a virgin, cloaked in innocence, and knew no sin. He became our substitute, our sacrifice (payment), so we can receive a new heart and be free from sin’s bondage (in this life) and penalty (in the future). When Jesus died on that cross as our substitute, God “made him [Jesus] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we [you] might be made the righteousness of God in him [Jesus]” (2 Cor. 5:21).

Salvation is not in what you can do, but rather, faith in what He has already done on your behalf.

Only God can make you clean. If you realize from your heart that your sin will condemn you forever after you die, then turn (repent) from your sin, “flee from the wrath to come” (Matt. 3:7). Jesus took your place, suffered and died as the payment for your sin, and rose again (came alive from the dead after three days) and now calls out to you. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). Flee to Christ; run to Him. Have you seen your sin as exceedingly sinful? God says, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (Prov. 28:13). Tell Him, “God, I have sinned against thee.” Say what the publican did as he cried out, “God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13). Forsake any beliefs of trying to “earn” your way into heaven and cast yourself upon Christ alone and submit to Him as your God and your Lord, in obedience. His blood can wash you clean. God says, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isa. 1:18).

God gave this glorious promise, “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:13). He is not willing for you to perish (2 Peter 3:9). Put your trust in Jesus, call upon Him by prayer, and He will save you and declare you to be clean. “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Desire God’s cleansing as you hear His call, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).

And when God saves you, He will give you a new heart with new desires to please Him, a new life from within by His Spirit who comes and lives inside you, and peace with God your Maker.

Then you can say, “I love my life because I have made preparation to meet God, who cared for my soul.” If you reject Him, you are in danger of facing God, whose name is holy, without any hope. God will cast you into that place of torment, for you have rejected the One who loved you and died in your place, your only way of escape (John 11:25, 14:6). I plead with you, look to Christ, cling to Him, read what He has said (the gospel of John and Romans in the Holy Bible can help you further), and know for yourself.

• “To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts” (Heb. 3:15).

• “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9).

• “Let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:17).

• “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).

• “Call unto me, and I will answer thee” (Jer. 33:3).

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