Have you ever asked yourself these questions? I know I once did. These are the most commonly asked questions I receive from atheists, agnostics, people of other faiths, skeptics, and inquiring minds. In response, I wish to share with you a true story about God.

You've probably never heard it told this way before, but here it goes...

A long time ago in ancient times, people had no way to have their sins be absolved accept through certain animal sacrifices, offerings and rituals as described in the laws and ordinances of the Old Testament. The animals brought forth for sacrifice had to be without blemish and only certain people could be in the presence of the sacrificial altar in which the sacrifice could be carried out. There were many guidelines and stipulations to be followed. It was a very strict law indeed and any deviation from it could result in banishment or even death.

Yet even after the many sacrifices and offerings, and the many blessings God bestowed upon them, the people still turned their backs to him. God still protected them and continued to forgive them time after time, yet they continuously failed to stay within his standard of living and continued to live life without God in both their minds and in their hearts.

So, one day, God thought to himself, "If I tell them face-to-face with my own mouth, in my own flesh and blood, on how to live a life more abundantly and joyfully maybe they'll understand." So God, in the form of a man, was born in a little town called Bethlehem. His name was Jesus. Jesus grew up to become a simple man like us. He ate like us, he slept like us, he even burped like us! He however, by choice, chose not to be elevated and revered by man as a king or governor. No, instead he wanted to experience what it was like to be a man to it's most realistic sense. He was even tempted by the devil like we often are today.

For three continuous years, Jesus told of God's love for them and told of the key to a joyful, rich, and abundant life that can only be obtained through him. Often times he was ridiculed and scorned. Yet God continuously pursued his mission in relaying his message of love to the world.

Then, within one week, Jesus was arrested, whipped, chained, spat upon, and tortured. The God who created those very people were being despised by them. Soon they called for his crucifixion. Several days later, Jesus was crucified on a cross on top of a little hill known as...Golgotha, the place of the skull. And within several hours, Jesus drew his last breath.

"Well, if he was truly God, why didn't he just prevent himself from being crucified?"

It's simple. Remember the sacrifices I told you about earlier in this story? Well, it was God's will for him to become the everlasting, eternal, sacrifice for us forever. No more do we have to sacrifice an animal on an altar. No more do we have to perform the ritualistic ceremonies for the forgiveness of our sins. No more do we have to fear God's wrath, because Jesus became the perfect, unblemished, sacrifice for us on that cross 2,000 years ago. To top it all off, it was God's one and only Son who chose to be that sacrifice for us. Ask yourself what other so-called "god" would die for us in order for us to have life eternally. Allah of the Muslim faith? No. Buddha? Nope. Confucius? No way. The fact is, no one ever died for the world in order that we all might have life except Christ himself.

"Okay, how can someone who has died possibly come into my life?"

Well, I saved the best for last.

He never died.

You see, when everyone thought he was dead, he was actually in an unseen world perfectly alive. I can't explain it. The Bible says he actually went to heaven and down to hell and conquered death. He defeated both death and the devil by giving us freedom and liberation from the bondage of sin. After three days, he returned back to this world and showed himself to a multitude of people and proved to them that he in fact was and is God, the risen Christ and Savior. Several days later he ascended into heaven. Alive and real. It is there where he now resides welcoming and awaiting anyone who receives him into their lives.

Now, the clincher to all of this is--you just have to believe all of this. If you don't, then you don't. You might not ever believe it. That's for you to decide. But it's real stuff! He truly lives today both in heaven and in our hearts and minds. The invitation has been extended to you personally. Just R.S.V.P. If you believe in him, then ask Christ to come into your life right now. Don't wait. There might be no tomorrow. Relinquish your life over to him today. You'll have nothing to fear if you have God on your side! In fact, you'll have an eternal purpose for living, something truly to live for. A life with substance. Simply get alone with God and ask him into your life, pray to him that you believe in Christ and that he has forgiven you of your sins. Confess those sins, and feel your soul be cleansed.

Oh, I almost forgot, I believe the questions asked at the beginning of this page have all been answered!