For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.     John 3:16 HCSB

We all want to be wanted. It’s great to have several job offers to choose from or even several suitors to choose from. It’s good to feel wanted and know that you can choose the one that best suits you.

This Scripture passage is one of the greatest testaments to God’s love and a deep desire for us. God loves us so much that He sent His only Son down to earth to be born of a virgin. He was fully man meaning he experienced all the physical and emotional pain we feel. He was fully God meaning He had the power and strength of God to do whatever He wanted.

He could have used that strength and power to avoid the crucifixion, but out of love, He died for us. If this doesn’t make you feel wanted, nothing will.

God wants you because He loves you. He wants you to live with Him forever in heaven where the streets are made of gold. He wants to give you peace and joy. He wants to protect you and take good care of you. He wants to walk with you through the tough times.

The devil also wants you, but his motives are much different. He wants to devour you, kill you, steal from you, and destroy you. He wants you to spend eternity in hell.

1 Peter 5:8 warns us to be sober and alert because the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. In John 10:10, Jesus warns that the thief has come to steal, kill, and destroy but He has come that we may not only have life but have it more abundantly.

We live our lives in the midst of this spiritual warfare where the prize is our souls. This is why Paul reminds us to daily put on the armor God gives us in Ephesians 6:10-18. This is why we are reminded to pray constantly and give thanks in all circumstances in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. We are reminded in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 of the great benefits of staying in God’s Holy word.

We have a choice. We have a decision to make. It would seem like a no-brainer the way I described what the devil wants to do, but the devil is crafty. He makes a life lived with him look fun and exciting. He will try to convince you that a life lived in Christ is restrictive and boring.

Don’t listen to Him, He’s a liar. He’s just trying to lure you into his web. He wants you to suffer in the bondage of sin leading to spiritual death. He wants you to be tormented in hell for eternity. He will promise you a life of luxury, fun and who knows what else, but He lies (John 8:44).

Jesus never promises that life here on earth will be a bed of roses. In fact, he warns that there will be plenty of thorns. He warns that we will be persecuted for our faith. Jesus said in Matthew 10:22, “You will be hated for my name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in this city, flee to another.”

Simply put, the devil promises us lots of goodness but delivers death and eternal torment. Jesus promises that we will have troubles in this world but lets us know it’s okay because He has conquered the world (John 16:33). He promises us a place in heaven if we will only believe in Him. He promises to be with us in the hard times. He promises to give us peace and joy.

But best of all, He promises us eternity in heaven. He promises there will be no more tears and no more death. No more worries.

Will you choose a moment of happiness for an eternity of torment? Or will you choose temporary troubles and discomfort here on earth for an eternity in heaven?

This is the choice we are faced with; we must decide before it’s too late. Failing to make that decision leaves us wide open to the devil.

It feels good to feel wanted, we just have to be sure that we choose wisely.

Have a great day!