Our instinct is to live self-directed and do as we please, but if the conclusion is that there must be a God, then it seems imperative to understand what that means for us individually. It could be that our instincts are wrong, that understanding what God tells us is to our dramatic benefit, and dismissal is to our tragic detriment.

On the other hand, if you believe humanity and our world came about by chance and that there is no God, you can spend your life chasing pleasure, comfort, and security. You can follow your heart’s desires, achieve what you can, accumulate more stuff, love your family and yourself, crush your enemies, and try to live a good life (though I’m not sure why). Then comes death. You are gone, forgotten, and forever perished. What was the point? Maybe there wasn’t one, as the Atheist would say. Do you buy that?

This work presents the critically important message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. The choice before us is acceptance or rejection, and everyone will have to give an answer. Here is a beautiful one-verse summary of the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ:

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not on the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him ^{John 3:36}

My hope is that God uses this work to encourage you to come and see.

A Limited Time Offer

The time we spend on Earth is brief. The choices you make now and the person you become will determine the quality of your life for eternity. You have the chance to accept God’s gift now. But if you die in your sins before you come to your senses, it will be too late.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. ^{Matthew 11:28-30}

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. ^{Revelation 3:20}

When you become a Christian, you become a new kind of person.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. ^{2 Corinthians 5:17}

As a child, I was well-versed in the message of salvation, and in my teens, I publicly declared my faith in Jesus Christ and was “saved.” My father and I were baptized together in a small Texas Southern Baptist church during the same evening service. That was around 1974. The foundation of my education in God’s word, laid so long ago, was instrumental in my preparation, but it wasn’t until I was in my mid-50s, 40 years later, that I felt drawn, led, or driven – however you want to put it – to turn to God. It was then that I experienced a profound change, in many ways dramatic, and finally became a new kind of person.

It was a combination of challenging circumstances that brought me to this point. My father, whom I was very close to, was terminally ill, and we knew his death was imminent. The anxious thought of losing him, a figure of stability and security in my life, along with other life pressures, heightened my primary source of anxiety and stress: a highly demanding job. I felt that my knowledge, experience, and confidence were, at best, the minimum needed to succeed. I worried that I lacked the competency to handle the role, and the workload felt overwhelming.

The pressure to perform was overwhelming, and a crippling fear bloomed inside me. This ongoing sense of failure anxiety affected every aspect of my life. At its worst, I was not able to perform at work. Fear would grip me during meetings, leaving me frozen in panic. With a pounding heart, sweaty palms, and an inability to breathe, think, or speak, I had to endure the embarrassment of excusing myself from meetings. The worry that this might cost me my job intensified my stress and anxiety, creating a vicious cycle of fear. It became clear that I couldn’t manage or cope with it on my own; self-reliance no longer carried me through the tough days.

The unexpected benefit of weakness is that God uses it to draw us closer to him. When I realized I had reached the limit of my ability to cope effectively, I turned to God. To the best of my ability, I surrendered my entire life to him, including all my challenges, insecurities, and failures. I placed my job, my role as a father and husband, my attitude, happiness, and future in his hands, and the result was astonishing.

I experienced a shift in attitude, perspective, and priorities as my desire to live in a way that pleases God became my highest priority. The issues and trials in my life continue, but I find that, with God’s help, I can now handle and navigate them effectively. I have learned that this life is a test; I expect to face an abundance of challenges and difficulties as God works to develop and mature my soul and character to be more like Christ. The growing conviction that God is in control, along with my belief that the struggles in this mortal life are insignificant compared to the eternal joy ahead, helps calm my fears and anxieties about the day’s affairs. I have learned to trust in God.

I felt his loving kindness as he comforted us through my father’s passing. I was there when Dad took his last breath, and although the separation was difficult, we found peace throughout it all. I felt his support as he established me at work, far beyond what I thought possible. Through him, I gained competence, worth, and reassurance – not just in the job but in knowing that his plan for me was the best I could hope for. He blessed my marriage with increased understanding, tolerance, and patience, along with a stronger desire to serve. Eighteen years of marriage now, and we have never been closer or more complete together.

Most importantly, I have peace knowing that all things now work for my good, and after my mortal life, I will spend eternity in Heaven. I strive to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, and I have true peace with God. I now understand and experience the often-repeated paradox in the Bible: “Whoever wishes to keep his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake will keep it.” I am grateful that God gave me the time to reach this point. My 40 years of wandering in the wilderness had come to an end. 

As I mature in my faith, I see self-serving attitudes fading away, replaced by a resolute desire to please God. This transformation is not instantaneous; it unfolds throughout your life as you pursue God and he works to make you more like Christ in motives, thoughts, and behavior.

As you immerse yourself in God’s word and absorb truth from sound teachers and fellow believers, he opens your eyes to understand what is right and proper while convicting you of what is wrong and unacceptable. Actively pursue a relationship with Jesus Christ, and you will experience transformation. Undoubtedly, you will look back in disbelief at what you once sought in the world, how you lived your life, how you treated others, and what you thought was acceptable.

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations (various trials); Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work (effect), that ye may be perfect and entire (complete), wanting (lacking) nothing. ^{James 1:2-4}

Life with Christ isn’t free of trouble. You’ll still face trials that often cause emotional or physical pain, misery, grief, or suffering. The difference is attitude, resolve, and response will be rooted in Christian principles and character.

God tests us with difficult times to build endurance and strengthen our faith. Testing fosters maturity and shapes us to be more like Christ. Trials humble us, deepen our reliance on God, and reveal the state of our faith. The true depth of an untested Christian’s conviction is often unknown, even to themselves. Untested faith may be no faith at all, but faith that has endured and blossomed in adversity is a very precious thing to possess.

But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. ^{Job 23:10}

James encourages us to face life’s trials with calm, confident competence, steady in the face of challenges. We can do this when we trust that God is in control and that he works everything together for our ultimate good. With him, we can successfully navigate trials and become a strong testimony to his perfect will. Conversely, a person without faith is often driven by emotions like anger, fear, or distrust. They tend to respond with self-serving, expedient solutions that prioritize their own interests.

We trust that our heavenly Father will lead and protect us, allowing us to face each day with joy and gratitude. Those who live without Christ are left to navigate life on their own. For them, enduring trials may help build character, but there is no benefit beyond the grave. For Christians, trials provide opportunities to serve God and demonstrate our peace through faith in Christ to the world.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. ^{John 16:33}

The commandments God gave Moses in the Old Testament, along with more than 600 other rules and regulations, govern Jewish conduct. In Judaism, following these laws shows how the chosen people are expected to behave. Notably, Jews are less concerned with the punishment of eternal damnation; instead, they focus on their actions in this life rather than the afterlife. There is no requirement of perfect righteousness to enter what they consider Heaven; they just need to do their best.

In contrast, Christianity provides a clearer understanding of what is necessary to avoid Hell and enter Heaven. Through the new covenant with God (the New Testament), we learn that no one is capable of obeying all the commandments all the time; therefore, we depend on Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross, which provides forgiveness of sins, credits his righteousness to believers, and justifies them before God.

The primary commandments guiding our behavior are summarized here, but it’s important to understand that the full range of commandments and teachings extends beyond what is shown. Make reading the word of God a daily priority to deepen your understanding of his will and what he expects from you.

Number One – Love God

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.  ^{Mark 12:30}

The first and most important commandment clearly tells us to love God above all else. We are called to love him fully, with our whole being, putting him before everything else.

The word “love” can mean many things. In this context, it refers to love expressed through will, actions, dedication, commitment, and purpose. It comes from our gratitude for his mercy (the forgiveness of sins) and his saving grace, which make us heirs to his kingdom (our justification), as well as our humble respect (the fear of God) for who he is. Loving God in this way results in obedience to his will; if you love God, you will keep his commandments. This love is not based on feelings, friendship, or adherence to religious rituals.

It is crucial to understand that God takes this commandment seriously. It is a directive, not a suggestion. In the verse below, Moses tells the Jews about God’s intolerance toward those who reject his commands and love other gods (idols) of the world.

Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you; (For the Lord thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the Lord thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth. ^{Deuteronomy 6:14-15}

Solomon tells us in Proverbs, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” While fear is a starting point, it is through love that wisdom is fully realized. Those who love God and obey his commands will immerse themselves in his word, remain in his presence, and discover his wisdom.

Number Two – Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. ^{Matthew 22:39}

The second greatest commandment is to love others as we love ourselves. Unlike our love of obedience to our Heavenly Father, this commandment emphasizes love as an act of service. We are called to love others as Jesus loved us. This includes qualities such as patience, tolerance, humility, service, support, encouragement, and edification. It is free from envy, coveting, arrogance, and self-serving attitudes.

This love isn’t just an emotion; it’s shown through our attitude, actions, and deeds. We’re not asked to like others, but to love them! When we interact with others, including those we might see as enemies, we should strive to treat them as Jesus would. Always remember to ask yourself, “What would Jesus do?”

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. ^{John 15:12}

No Idolatry

Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. ^{Exodus 20:3-6}

Idolatry is defined as loving anything more than God. The priorities we establish in our lives reveal what we idolize, and the things we idolize are those we ultimately serve. If you prioritize money, power, career, pleasure, sex, status, family, sports, entertainment, material possessions, or even religion above God, then those become your idols. Enjoy God’s blessings, but remember to serve only him, and beware of the temptation to turn good things in life into evil, sinful pursuits.

Do Not Commit Adultery

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. ^{Matthew 5:27-28}

Lust was a stumbling block for David, Samson, and many others in the Bible. Adultery is common today, and it has wrecked many lives. Lust remains one of Satan’s most powerful tools to lead us astray.

Do Not Take the Lord’s Name in Vain

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. ^{Exodus 20:7}

If there is a proper fear of God, this is not a problem. Using his name as an expletive or in any disrespectful or irreverent way dishonors and trivializes him. It is interesting to notice that for thousands of years, humanity has often disparaged God’s name. The long-standing tendency to profane his name is a sad confirmation of his existence and shows that society, as a whole, has no respect for or fear of God.d.

Do Not Murder, Steal, or Lie

Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. ^{Exodus 20:13 & 15-16}

This is basic stuff. We learned it in kindergarten, except for the murder part—we learned about that later, by watching TV. Although these commands should be simple to follow, they are broken every day.

Do Not Covet

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s. ^{Exodus 20:17}

To covet means to have a strong, wrongful desire to possess something. Covetousness stems from the motives, desires, and attractions of the heart. It represents an excessive love that elevates good things to the status of ultimate things. In this sense, covetousness is a form of idolatry because it directs our desires toward things other than God. This commandment emphasizes that we should love the Lord our God above everything else.

Coveting is the root of many sins. Adultery, lying, stealing, and even murder are often caused by covetousness. You cannot truly love your neighbors if you desire what they have. Overcoming covetousness requires a change of heart, which can only happen through the help of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, pray for his assistance in freeing you from worldly desires and strive for holiness; otherwise, your life may be ruined.

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. ^{James 1:14-15}