A Secure Future

Written by Elizabeth Gyuse

In Jos, Nigeria, as an act of duty, seven-year-old Elizabeth was given to her aunt to be raised.

Her aunt’s only child had died. “My father said she could raise me as she wanted,” says Elizabeth. “She was Muslim so she did her best to make a Muslim out of me.”

Although Elizabeth practiced Islam faithfully, one question nagged her: where do I go when I die? When she asked her aunt, her aunt would reply, “Nobody knows. Keep on doing good; God may accept you in the end.”

In college, Elizabeth’s friends often invited her to church but she usually declined. One day, she decided to attend. And she was surprised. “Nothing we do is good enough for God,” the minister said. “Only through Jesus are we acceptable to God and guaranteed heaven.”

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“When I heard that I can have Jesus Christ in my life,” says Elizabeth, “and that I can be sure of heaven, I knew Jesus was the answer.”

Today her bright smile reflects the peace in her life. “Being a Christian means that I know someone bigger than me and my problems,” she says. “Someone to thank for the good things and somebody to turn to in time of need.”

Not everyone wonders about life after death, the way that Elizabeth did. Yet each of us has the need for assurance. That our lives have meaning. That we have value as individuals.

Elizabeth discovered how she could have the certainty that she so desperately needed, but Jesus is not just for Elizabeth. God promises that He has plans for each one of us, to give us hope and a future. This promise is for you, too. You can have peace and fulfilment through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Take a look at your life. How would you describe it? Contented? Rushed? Exciting? Stressful? Moving forward? Holding back? For many of us it’s all of the above at times. There are things we dream of doing one day, there are things we wish we could forget. In the Bible, it says that Jesus came to make all things new. What would your life look like if you could start over with a clean slate?

Living with hope

If you are looking for peace, there is a way to balance your life. No one can be perfect, or have a perfect life. But every one of us has the opportunity to experience perfect grace through a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer. Praying is simply talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. Here’s a suggested prayer:

Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in as my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be.

Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? You can pray it right now, and Jesus Christ will come into your life, just as He promised.

Is this the life for you?

If you invited Christ into your life, thank God often that He is in your life, that He will never leave you and that you have eternal life. As you learn more about your relationship with God, and how much He loves you, you’ll experience life to the fullest.