Jesus offers us the greatest gift imaginable: salvation and a place with Him in eternity.

We have a major decision in life: to pursue life with God or to pursue a life apart from Him. There is no third choice. The consequences of the wrong choice are more than any of us would be willing to face if we really understood them. Unfortunately, many people move through life without grasping those consequences. We may think that being a “good person” is adequate for our salvation but fail to use the right measuring stick—comparing ourselves to other people instead of to God’s perfect standard. His standard is the only one that matters in the end, and no person except Jesus is able to attain it (Romans 3:23). As a result, trusting in Jesus is our only hope. Paul tells us in Romans 10:9-10: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
This is the essence of the gospel. What it means to believe in Jesus is amplified in the prologue to John’s Gospel: “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (1:11–12). This passage teaches that believing in Jesus is not merely an intellectual decision but a personal reception that transforms people into the spiritual children of God whose eternal life now dwells in them.

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” (John 11:25–26)
Because Jesus rose from the dead, all those who trust in him will also rise from the dead.

“For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:14)
The offer of salvation is made to all, without bias or prejudice, but God has given us the capacity to respond to his initiatives. Jesus’ offer is real, but we have to either receive or reject it. To ignore His offer is effectively to reject it. Because of our tendency to pursue what is seen (this world) over the unseen (eternity in heaven), it is no surprise that few choose to accept Jesus’ invitation.

“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
Jesus utters these words to one of the two criminals crucified beside him. That criminal, a thief, acknowledged the deity of Christ and sought forgiveness, while the other mocked Him. Thus, Jesus is affirming that it is never too late to come to salvation, regardless of our sinful past. The two criminals’ responses mirror our two options: accept Jesus into our lives or reject him. There is no third option.

Reflection: Do Jesus’ words reassure you that you will receive the salvation offered by Him?