The One Guaranteed Investment

I was 17 years old when I was invited to attend a Young Life camp. I could count the number of times I had attended church on one hand and wasn’t thrilled about the idea of attending a “churchy” camp. I decided to go because of the friend who invited me. If he was going, it had to be a pretty fun trip.

Little did I know that week would change my life forever. For the first time, I heard about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. There were several truths explained to me during that week that I had never understood before:

• God Loves you and wants you to know Him.
• God desires a close relationship with each of us.
• Jesus came not only to give life, but life to the fullest.

The day Danielle and I adopted our son, Cash, was one of the most emotional days of my life. I held him in my arms and realized how much I loved our little boy. Although I love other people, I don’t love them enough to give my son to die for them. But that is how much God the Father loves you. He gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for you.

Unfortunately, we are separated from God

God is holy—which simply means God is perfect, and He can’t have a relationship with anyone who is not perfect. While at camp, my Young Life leader shared about sin. He explained that every person has sinned, and the consequence of sin is separation from God. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “…your sins have cut you off from God” (Isaiah 59:2, TLB).

God’s only provision to bridge this gap is Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin, bridging the gap between God and us. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6). “God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

This Relationship is a gift from God

My Young Life leader explained that by faith I could receive the free gift of a relationship with God. “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith – this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV).

I only had to ask Jesus Christ to come into my life to be my Savior and Lord. So I did! I have been in a relationship with the Lord for 23 years and nothing in life compares with knowing Christ personally. We can experience true peace, joy, and hope when we know Him. It’s the only way you can enjoy true financial freedom.

If you want to know God and aren’t certain whether you have this relationship, I encourage you to receive Jesus Christ right now. Pray a prayer similar to the one I prayed: “God, I need You. I’m sorry for my sin. I invite Jesus to come into my life as my Savior and Lord, and to make me the person You want me to be. Thank You for forgiving my sins and giving me the gift of eternal life.”

You might go all the way on your financial journey, but without a relationship with Christ, it won’t have any lasting value. If you asked Christ into your life, you have made the most important decision anyone could ever make. I urge you to find a local church that teaches the Bible, one where you can begin to learn what it means to follow Jesus Christ.