Faith | This is a love story meant for you and all mankind

The following story continues to give me true meaning and purpose in life. May you also be blessed by it.

About 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ lived the most unique life in the history of the universe. He claimed to be both man and God.

The name Jesus comes from the name Joshua in the Old Testament written originally in Hebrew. It means, “Yahweh is salvation.” The title of Christ comes from the Old Testament word Messiah, meaning the “Anointed One of God,” as a king.

Jesus performed many miracles, predicted his own death and resurrection, and made some astounding promises about eternal happiness.

First of all, God loved you—and me— so much that his son became flesh in Jesus Christ who was born, grew up and lived as one of us, being tempted in all things as we are.

Yet, he lived a totally sinless, righteous life in order to be the perfect sacrifice for all our sins. He was tried illegally and then brutally executed on a Roman cross. There at Calvary, he took the punishment for all sin from God the Father upon himself.

Christ was the perfect substitutionary sacrifice for us so that we could be delivered from the penalty of all our sins and be saved.

Jesus suffered physical excruciating pain the first three hours on the Cross. But the worst of it came during the second three hours when he was separated from God the Father. Probably that felt like an eternity to him.

But then he shocked the world by miraculously coming back to life on the third day after his burial.

Even though you may feel like an insignificant speck in this life on Earth, an all-powerful, all-knowing, eternal, perfect, just, loving God created you for a purpose. He loves you so much that he wants to have a personal relationship with you.

He values each person—that’s you— as if they’re the most important person in the Universe.

In order to have true meaning and purpose in life, you’ll need to get to know him. Only then will you be able to live life to the fullest.

As I said before, Jesus sacrificed himself for you on the Cross. So, no matter how many good works and or religious rites you do, or your neighbor does, we are all sinners in rebellion against him, judged by our thoughts and actions.

But God, being perfect, holy, and just, has to separate himself from sin. So, after death, the punishment for those who reject him is not being able to live with him in Heaven, and being sent to Hell.

Yet there’s hope, because out of his love for you in going to the cross, Jesus gives you—and me—a free gift, an opportunity to be cleansed from the penalty of all our sins—past, present, and future.

You’ll find new purpose in life, and it’s to live each day in fellowship with him and walk in all the good works he has assigned that are unique to you and other believers.

You now have the free choice to receive his free gift of salvation by trusting in him only as your personal Savior and Lord. This decision will bring inner peace and joy in time, and eternal happiness guaranteed forever in his never ending kingdom.

Salvation is a one-time event that happens when you put your full trust in Jesus Christ. He gets all the credit, honor, and glory he rightfully deserves, not us.

Lee Walter is Sunday School superintendent at Columbia Bible Church in Kennewick and vice chairman of the Tri-Cities Child Evangelism Fellowship. Questions and comments should be directed to editor Lucy Luginbill in care of the Tri-City Herald newsroom, 4253 W. 24th Avenue, Kennewick, WA 99338. Or email lluginbill@tricityherald.com.