There are plenty of truths and facts dealing with physics, history, reality, and the natural world that we accept and live by each day. Although these truths are important, they pale in comparison to the most vital truth that we as humans need to grasp and accept: the truth about our one and only God, the Creator who loves us and wants to be in relationship with us.

Have you ever felt as though there is distance between you and God? Have you felt uncertain about His desires and plans for you?  Or...have you wondered if there is even a God out there at all???  Well, God's message to us is that He is incredibly interested in us, but we are disconnected from Him and He wants to do something about that!

In the Bible, God's main source of information to us, He tells us very clearly where the problem originates. In Romans 3:23, we read: "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Don't be confused by some expressions here that may be a little new to you; God's message to us is very clear. Each of us has done things wrong in our lives--everyone! Me, you, our family members, our friends, everyone including the nicest people we know! And the result is that we "fall short". We come up short of God's standard (perfection) and thus we construct an ever-increasing wall between us and God. But that's not all. Romans 6:23 tells us: "for the wages of sin is death". Not only are we missing out on a relationship with God, but we are in trouble! There is a cost, a price, a payment for the things we have done wrong. That's plain justice.  God's calls this result death. What is that? Well, since God is life, we will experience a separation from Him forever--death--without a solution to our problem. The Bible graphically portrays what that eternally-disconnected experience from God will be like. Ever hear anyone say, "Man, my job is hell!"?  Well, that expression originated from the terrible, eternal result of not having a relationship with God!

But there is great news! The second part of Romans 6:23 says: "but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord". God, in the person of Jesus Christ (the Christmas story) came to our world 2,000 years ago. Jesus lived the perfect life that we can't live and was executed, not for His sins or crimes (God is perfect), but for ours.  In doing so, He paid the price for our sins and built a bridge over the wall of separation so we can now get to God!!!  Acts 20:21 tells us that if we "repent" (feel sincerely sorry for what we have done wrong and desire to change) and "have faith" (believe that Jesus is who He says He is, that He died substitutionally for us, was buried  to prove that He was dead and rose from the grave to prove He was God), we can have a relationship with God.   We also need to make Jesus the Lord--the "CEO"--of our lives and commit to following His plan.  Our relationship with God includes power for now and security for eternity. Who would not want to accept this free offer of forgiveness and acceptance by God?!?

If you would like to have a friendship with God, please just pray this prayer:

"Jesus, I believe that you are God. I believe that you came to earth 2000 years ago and lived the perfect life that I cannot live.  I know that You died on the cross for my sins, You were buried and You rose again three days later. God, I have done many things wrong in my life. I am sorry for the things I have done wrong and I desire to change. I now ask you Jesus, to come into my life and become my Lord, my God and my Savior. Thank you, Jesus, for saving me."

If you prayed that prayer, please contact us and let us know. We'll provide some information for you that will help you develop your new relationship with God. And please visit us at Aletheia Norfolk; we would love to get to know you!