You are Precious!
Very much so! God loves you, has given you a high dignity and wants to meet all your needs in the best possible way! You have been given an individual calling that suits you perfectly and through which you can make the very best out of your life and also contribute best to a much better world in the long term!
Even though life may be more or less bearable most of the time, we all sense that it could be much better. Where does this idea come from, if we have never experienced anything significantly better? In fact, there had once been a original state with optimal conditions. There was no death, no disease, no war, no scarcity, no hardship, no boredom! People were happy. They lived in harmony with their origin, the personification of pure love, eternal beauty, perfection, and wisdom! They were free, had everything they needed in the best quality, and also had the very best influence on their environment. This state is supposed to return, and it will return! Do you want to be part of it? Everything is prepared for you too!
About the Source
While in the case of Aristotle, Plato and Caesar, one to ten copies are sufficient for us to regard the events described as certain, our source, with over 25,000 manuscripts, is better documented than any other historical document. Central events were recorded comparatively early after they happened, which makes them highly reliable. Statements by a wide variety of authors coincide in almost all details with each other and also with independent, external sources – even those following a much different objective.
At all times, oppressive governments have tried to either ban it or portray it as untrustworthy because it limits their claims to absoluteness and attempts of manipulation and it uniquely conveys freedom, dignity and the love of God to people. In the long term, however, it has remained the best-selling book of mankind despite all the challenges, and even today its popularity is growing most strongly precisely where its distribution is most fiercely opposed.
Countries, on the other hand, in which the message of the Bible – not a religious affiliation per se – had been able to shape society for a long time, are now consistently found in the top ranks of indices on happiness, freedom of press, stability, etc. It is not uncommon for them to deliberately display biblical symbols on their national flags. The Indian philosopher Vishal Mangalwadi attributes all the achievements of the West to its former dedication to the Bible, both in detailed treatises as well as brief summaries. Of the approximately 6000 prophecies, roughly half have already come true in detail. So there is a lot of reason for taking a closer look at this book. This text is intended to give you an initial overview and provide some suggestions on how to react.
How Everything Started
„All scripture is given by inspiration of God …“ (2.Tim3:16) so let it speak for itself.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… All things were made by him …
Jh1:1ff
“And God said …
- … Let there be light: and there was light.” (Gen1:3)
- “… Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. 10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas” (1.Mo1:9f)
- “… Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.” (V11)
- “… Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night… and it was so.” (V14)
- “… Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.” (V24)
God created everything by speaking. His word has its own dynamics. And every time scripture says
and God saw that it was good.
Vv 10, 12, 18, 21, 25
What are People made for?
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness… So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Gen1:26ff
So God did not want to govern the earth personally, as He does the rest of the universe, but instead appointed people, whom He created specifically for this purpose, to represent Him and ensure that everything could prosper optimally. They were created “in the image of God,” “an image that is like us,” meaning that they were naturally in tune with Him and ideally suited for this task. God handed over the earth to them and has not intervened since without their consent. They enjoyed a perfect life, had regular fellowship with their Origin, and could confidently communicate with Him about everything. They felt completely safe and secure and experienced always the best outcome for everyone when acting according to His word!
And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.
Gen1:31
The Mission
And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.
And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Gen2:8+15ff
So there was plenty of freedom to shape one’s life and environment and only one serious warning – what a difference to all the regulations we have to contend with today! Man naturally arranged everything the way God wanted it, communicated with Him about everything and received everything he needed from Him – an ideal living and working environment!
What Happened?
People had a high degree of autonomy. God only intervened when they wanted him to, or at least allowed him to. They were supposed to rule on God’s behalf, prioritizing his interests and implementing them – with all love and sensitivity -, which was easy for them because they were created in His image and with His nature.
However, there are indications that they became careless at some point. They did not adequately protect the garden against animals of the field that did not belong there. Destructive forces were able to operate, the animal world became dissatisfied with humans under their influence and tried to weaken their relationship with God because He had been the source of their strength.
Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”
Gen3:1
Over time, people allowed themselves to be manipulated into breaking the only commandment God had given them! Actually, such a thing was unthinkable, because the Word of God created everything and naturally keeps everything alive (2 Pet 3:7)
In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
1.Jh1:4
Success had always been guaranteed as long as they kept to it. It was more reliable than anything else. But now the people who ruled the earth had believed a lie and had by their actions at least made it difficult for this vital word to retain it’s influence on the planet!
As a result, they became mortal, susceptible to sickness, insecure and lost their intimacy with God, their origin! As a result, their social skills dwindled, which they could have used right now, because work had become laborious and inefficient and resources had become scarcer! In the long term, all this led to murders, wars, fraud and all kinds of wickedness among people. Diseases, natural disasters and every conceivable form of suffering had also come into the world since the word was only able to provide a healthy balance to a limited extent, and the animals were no better off now either.
Mankind still rules the earth—our actions have a much greater impact on their environment than those of other creatures. But without a connection to God and under the influence of destructive forces, even with the best will in the world, the results are not always positive, and even when they are, they are often not free of harmful side effects. Moreover, our will is no longer the best either!
Is there a way back?
If all the problems of the world are based on the fact that we have lost intimacy with our origin and His Word because we have not believed Him, could not an open-minded approach to Him repair the damage? Very soon
began men to call upon the name of the LORD.
Gen4:26
and God promises:
that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered.
Jol3:5
God is extremely loving, gracious and merciful, and He forgives wherever He can. He had an animal die as a substitute for the sin of the first humans, so that they did not have to perish immediately, and clothed them with its fleece. He was and is prepared to give everything to save mankind, and He chose a man who in turn was prepared to give everything to Him. His descendants became a people to whom He communicated His Word again – the Word from which everything originated and which keeps everything alive! God dwelt in their midst and thereby had a legal residence on earth again, which He had handed over to mankind. This was good for the whole planet, because in God’s presence some problems dissolve as if by themselves!
If His people believed His words and acted accordingly, they were doing well in every respect! They were free, economically strong, could successfully defend themselves and dealt well with God and their fellow human beings. However, when they abandoned His word, this success was noticeably reversed.
However, God was always open to people turning back to Him. They had to be serious about it and sacrifice an innocent lamb, which died as a substitute for their guilt and whose pure blood then covered them. All was forgiven, the relationship with this unique God was restored and His favor enabled them and their environment to enjoy an incomparable quality of life again!
God raised up prophets among His people who passed on His Word in detail, predicted many things which later came to pass exactly, and encouraged people to hold fast to their faith and loyalty to God, and to expect a Savior who would eventually reconcile the whole world back to Him!
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Rom3:23f
It is important to understand that since the events described at the beginning, humankind has only a very limited idea of what is good and right, and what it’s calling is. We have a conscience, but it is not perfect and does not always prevail, so we make many mistakes. You, too, have certainly missed your calling many times, and you have also noticed time and again when you have not acted rightly. God does not want to hold anything against you, but these so-called sins block your relationship to Him. In any case, you could certainly use effective forgiveness and restoration of your link to Him!
Salvation: The Word is Back Again!
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Joh1:14
One of His closest friends – Peter – reports
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
Act 10:38
People recognized from the miracles Jesus performed that He had truly must have come from God. A person who got healed reports:
Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could do nothing!
Joh9:32f
Jesus fulfilled what all the prophets – e.g. Isaiah – had written about Him, and finally gave His own life as a human sacrificial lamb on behalf of a humanity that deserved the opposite … You can likewise profit from it!
[John] saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Jh1:29
He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
Jes53:5ff
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all
1Tim2:5f
Peter continues to report:
… whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly… And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
Act 10:39ff
The Supreme Judge of the Universe has personally given His life for you and will pardon you if you accept His gift in faith in due time! That is 100% certain!
To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Act 10:43
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Jh3:16
Do You Want That?
Talk to Him! He is listening to you right now! Thank Him e.g. and/or ask Him to confirm whether what you have read is right and important for you!
whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered.
Jo2:32
Do you want to accept the best offer of your life? Tell Him, for example:
„Jesus Christ, I need You and want to live with and for You! Forgive me all my sins and lead me through Your Holy Spirit to get to know You, to enjoy Your love, grace and goodness, and to increasingly shape my heart, life and environment in such a way that it conforms to Your good will. Thank You for taking away all my sins on the cross! Thank You for cleansing me by Your Blood! I believe in You! Thank You that because of You I can live freely, safely and blessed and receive wisdom and strength for everything important! Take over my life now – I want to belong to You and become free from everything that stands in Your way. Make me available to You first and foremost! Amen!“
Congratulations!
If that’s what you said and meant, you’ve made the very best decision by far and now have a new life!
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a fresh creature: old things are passed away; behold, a complete renewal has started!”
2.Kor5:17
You can start over and will be optimally guided by Him if you stay in contact with Him. Take time for this regularly, discuss everything that moves you with Him and get to know Him better and better – also with the help of the Bible.
And this is life eternal, that they might [ever more deeply] know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Joh17:3
Give Him your time and attention and become more and more filled with Him and His nature! You now belong to His chosen people, in whom He dwells and through whom He works on earth. The more openly you encounter Him and respond to what He communicates to you, the more effectively this will happen.
Stay in regular contact with Him. And if you have allowed yourself to be distracted, then keep coming back to Him, because He has permanently removed everything that could seperate you!
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life!
Röm5:10
Next Steps
Read the Bible
It is uniquely inspired by the Spirit of God.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
2.Tim3:16f
Start e.g. with the report of His best friend John and the following books. Further details about Jesos‘ life and teachings you can e.g. find from Mt1:18 on.
Clicking on the arrow on the right (web) or swiping to the left (mobile) takes you to the next chapter or book.
Don’t worry if you don’t understand everything straight away. Ask God for understanding and pay attention to what then is revealed to you. Since God is constantly revealing himself, it is often not boring to read already known passages again.
The Bible helps you to get to know Him and to understand what comes from Him in what you read, hear and think. It is a safe reference.
Now the purpose of the commandment is Love out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
1Tim1:5
Find Likeminded People
Ask God to bring you together with the right fellowship. You can recognize them by their genuine love for one another, their sparkling enthusiasm for Jesus, and by the fact that you feel even more joyful, motivated and connected to God after a meeting.
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Joh13:35
And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul… And they continued stedfastly in the apostles‘ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers… breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Act4:32+2:42+46ff
A first step could be the foundastional course of faith „Alpha“, which is offered for free from various organizations.
Be Baptized
Thereby your faith is practically documented and your transfer from this world to the eternal kingdom of God becomes legally effective!
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved …
Mk16:15f
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Rom6:4
When Jesus returns or you die, you will be with Him if you have remained in faith until then. This is part of your future then:
And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
Rev22:1ff
The Goal
And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven!
Act1:10f
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Thes 4:16f
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power…. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.
1.Cor15:22ff
Then it is fulfilled what the name of God says about Himself:
And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you… this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
Ex3:14f
The Way
Now it’s your turn. Just talk to Him! “Dear Father in Heaven, in the name of Jesus I thank you for … and I ask You for … In Jesus name Amen.”
Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.
Ps62:8
Priorities that have eternal effect:
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
1Cor13:13