Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses said to the people, “You have committed a great sin. So now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.”     Exodus 32:30 NKJV

Imagine you are going through some hard financial times. What if you went to the grocery store to get a few items which you desperately need. Now just imagine when the clerk rings these items up, you don’t have enough cash to cover them or perhaps your card is declined. What if you heard a stranger from behind you telling the clerk they would pay. They pass their money or their card to the clerk and your groceries are covered.

Your family desperately needs these items. So, do you reject this random act of kindness, or do you gratefully accept it?

Or imagine that you have gotten yourself into big trouble with your parents and they are very upset with you. Imagine that your big brother or sister steps in and agrees to take your punishment. Do you accept that or gladly take the punishment yourself?

Each week in children’s church I try to teach the kids a new biblical word using a coloring book by Spencer Smith. A couple weeks ago the word was atonement. I asked the kids if they thought their sibling, or a friend would take their punishment if they got into trouble. My nephew said he didn’t know because he couldn’t read his sister’s mind.

The word atonement is defined as the reconciling of two parties that were once enemies. When we sin, we are God’s enemy. Jesus Christ died on the cross to make atonement for our sins. This allows us to be in a right relationship with God. It provides for our sins to be forgiven so that we are no longer enemies of God.

The thing about atonement is that it is freely offered. Jesus died on the cross so we all could be saved. We are all sinners (Romans 3:23) in need of a Savior. So, my question today is are you willing to accept the free gift of atonement offered by Jesus for our sins?

Salvation comes through Jesus Christ alone. There is no other way.  In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father except through Me.” If we don’t accept Christ and accept the atonement for our sins, we cannot have eternal life in heaven with God the Father.

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son so man may not perish but have eternal life.”  We all need salvation. This salvation has been bought and paid for by Jesus Christ. Will you accept it, or will you die in your sin and spend eternity in hell? The choice is yours.

Have a great day!