We get pretty busy with our day-to-day life. It’s kind of a necessity. But do you ever wonder if you, and what you do, really matters? Do you ever wonder if there is any meaning to life?

Maybe you look at the evil in the world, and you wonder where God could be. But how do we know something’s evil unless we know what’s good?

Maybe you have found yourself in trouble and you asked God for help. Maybe you made a bargain with God, but you didn’t keep it for long.

Maybe, in an honest and serious moment, you have taken stock of your life, and it’s not what you would really admire. If there is a God, maybe you wonder how he could take an interest in you. How could He want you?

There is good news for you - and for me - and for everyone.

You and I (and all people) are created in the image of God. There is a sort of cosmic, spiritual way in which we bear His likeness deep, deep down in our soul. But when the first man doubted God’s goodness and turned away, paradise with God on earth was ruined. And everyone since then has been born in rebellion against God, alienated from pure love, pure goodness, pure trust, pure virtue. I know I’ve made a mess of a lot of things. We all have. You have, too, if you are honest. But you still matter and have eternal value, because you bear God’s image in your soul. It’s just terribly marred by the things you have done, the words you have said, the thoughts you have had - I know that you know what I mean because it’s true of me, too.

God came to earth in the form of a helpless baby, born in a dirty barn to a poor tradesman, Joseph, and his wife Mary. He was conceived miraculously within the Virgin Mary. So we call Him the Son of God and the Son of Man - that’s Jesus. That was Christmas. We call it the Incarnation - when God became man. The story rings true, because only God would do things that way. No person I have ever known, or known of, would even think of it.

Jesus did all the right things. He told us the truth. Jesus showed us who God is and how to live. Everyone should have loved Him, adored Him, and followed Him. He did miraculous things that lots of people saw - like healing people, so that they, and we, would know who He was.

But the people back then were like you and me. They weren’t very good, really deep down. They were selfish, angry, jealous, bitter, lustful, hateful - yeah, we all have those times. He brought them love and light, but they framed him and executed Him like a common criminal when He was only 33. And the truth is that is what you and I would have done if we had been there. Our own sin - our rebellion against God and all the things we say, think and do that don’t honor God - prove that’s true.

We kind of like things the way they are, and we don’t like God showing us our faults and making demands and all that sort of thing. But somehow, it was God’s plan all along. You see, you and I owe a debt to God that we can’t pay back, and in a way, to other people whom we affect through our messed up lives. That’s why God sent Jesus. And because Jesus was God, as well as man, Jesus could have destroyed his enemies back then (just like we have made ourselves his enemies now), but He allowed Himself to be crucified - because He loves you. His death had been prophesied for thousands of years. And because He was the Son of God, He died for each of us, and that absolutely includes you. That’s how much he loves you. He wants you. You might say He’s crazy about you - not your sin (all the badness and the mess), but you - and me. He wants us to know Him anyway.

And Jesus didn’t just die. He rose again. It totally shocked his disciples. They were hiding and fearing for their lives, but that all changed when they saw Him alive again - many times.

Jesus said some really important things (you can read them in the Gospel of John, chapters 6 and 7), like:

“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’”.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” And then He clarified that by saying, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”

Jesus was telling us there is more than this life. A life that’s deeper, more real, and lasts for . . . ever. But what does He mean by “believe” and “eating” his flesh and blood”? Think of it this way. Believing is like betting your life on Jesus - that what He said was true, that He died for you, and that He rose from the dead - for you. Eating His flesh and drinking His blood is like receiving His life into our life. It happens through believing and learning to follow Him in every part of our life. It’s God pouring his uncreated life through his Spirit into your created life - a little like the Incarnation, in a way.

God wants you - you, individually. Your past doesn’t matter. That damage has been paid for as far as God is concerned.

You might ask, “How do I know for sure that God wants me? I’ve drifted too far. I’ve lied too much. I’ve betrayed people. I hide my inner thoughts from people because I’m ashamed. I smoke. I drink too much. I gamble. I’ve hurt people. I’ve been in jail. I’m in prison. God wouldn’t want me.”

I promise you that if you feel that way, it’s because God’s Spirit is speaking to you. Jesus said, “I have not come to call the [people who think they are] the righteous but [rather, those that understand that they are] sinners to repentance.” I added the part in [ ] to make it a little easier to understand (You can read it yourself in the Gospel of Luke chapter 5, verse 32). And it’s probably worth mentioning that repentance is about agreeing with God about who we really are, what we’ve done, and that we need Jesus. St. Paul tells us in The Acts of the Apostles (chapter 17, verse 30) that God “commands all people everywhere to repent”. You’re a person, and you are somewhere, so that definitely means you!

God is speaking directly to you. He’s crazy about you. He wants to save you from yourself so much that He sent Jesus to die for you.

People came to Jesus once and said, “What must we do to be doing what God wants?” Here’s what He said back to them: “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” That’s also in the Gospel of John (chapter 6, verse 29). Jesus was saying that we need to believe in Him - to bet our life and our very existence on Him.

I’m not the pastor. That’s Pastor Ed. I think you would really like him, by the way. He used to fix motorcycles for a living, but now he rides and fixes them in his spare time. I am just one of the people that attends Goodyear Heights Baptist Church. My life journey has led me to the Truth that I’ve tried to explain here.

You can ask God for help right now. He will forgive you, and you can begin your journey with Jesus - or restart it. God holds out help that we don’t deserve - we call that “grace” - it’s forgiveness and His life in us and with us. But we need to accept it. We have to choose. God did not create robots. We can’t have His grace unless we follow (believe - start betting our life on Jesus). It’s like getting a ride in someone’s car when you really need a lift. The ride is there, but you have to get into the car, or it won’t do you any good.

If you bet your life on Jesus, He will never let you go. You wouldn’t choose Jesus if God wasn’t calling out to you. He knows you - everything you ever did, and everything you ever will do, so you can be sure His love is forever.

If you come to Goodyear Heights Baptist Church, you will find people who are trying to bet their lives on Jesus. But none of us are going to be what we ought to be, yet.

Speaking for myself, I will probably disappoint you sooner or later. I hope not, but my rebellious human nature tries to pull me away from God sometimes. So I’m really thankful that God’s Holy Spirit is changing my nature so that I can follow Jesus, and be a little more like Him every day.

We welcome you to join with us on this journey of believing in Jesus. It’s our goal to love God and love each other - and that includes you - 100%.

My name is Mark. I hope I get the chance to meet you at church.