He already paid the cost...

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV)

We all know the story of Adam and Eve, you know, the one where all of humanity was doomed and destined to be wicked. Yeah, that one. In the beginning when God made man and woman, He made them in His image. Jesus was there too when all this went down. The serpent (the devil) convinced Eve that she wouldn't die if she ate the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 3:3). But what the serpent failed to admit was that Adam and Eve would actually die, but it wasn't the kind of death we automatically think of. It was a spiritual death, an eternal separation from God the Father. Once the fruit was eaten there was no turning back. God kicked them out of the Garden and the rest of humanity was destined and bound to sin and death or separation from God. This separation led to God destroying the earth and all of humanity except for Noah and his family (Genesis 6). Once peace was restored, the sting of sin and death reared it's ugly head all over again, this time though, the LORD promised He would never flood the whole earth again. Just a heads up that means the earth will be destroyed some other way, not with water though.

The awesome thing about God though is that He already knew all this was going to happen. Jesus knew too. Jesus watched as history unfolded and the bloodline that would lead to His birth came together. Then it was time, Jesus left His heavenly home to become human. Jesus is the only God that has ever left their resting place to come here to earth. It says in John 3:16 "for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life". God sacrificed His only Son for us, because He loves us. When God created man, He knew there needed to be an eternal sacrifice, there needed to be a way for His people to be reconciled back to Him. So He gave us Jesus.

I would imagine that Jesus didn't really want to come to earth, but He understood the assignment. He understood that there was no other way for us to be made righteous, there was no other way for us to go home to heaven with God. That's real love y'all. Jesus came to earth to live as we live, but He was without sin. He was tempted just as we are tempted, yet He was without sin. * Sidebar- Sin is doing the things you know are wrong, doing things are displeasing to the Lord. Sin is lying, stealing, causing strife to others, using our bodies as tools for evil, etc.*

Jesus got tired, He was hungry, He had anxiety, He suffered greatly as a human thus making Him the most relatable person that ever existed. He performed miracles and taught of Gods love and holiness. He did all He could to make things right before willingly giving up His life. Jesus was beaten, battered, tortured, and humiliated on our behalf. He suffered a brutal death, the physical death that we deserved, the death that none of us could ever possibly handle. He was nailed to a cross and shunned by God so that we could be set free and forgiven. Jesus became sin. When I say God shunned Him, I mean that God turned away from His one and only Son. The same way He turns away from us when we willingly engage in sinful acts. Jesus got the full wrath of God and man just because He loves us.

Jesus bought you with His blood because He loves you and He knew there was no other way for humanity to be redeemed. Jesus understands all that you are going through. He understands the pressure you're under right now. Jesus understands the depression you feel and the fear that surrounds you. He gets it and He loves you still. Jesus' death on the cross and His resurrection were a requirement for reconciliation, and now He invites you to an eternal life in heaven with Him. When you accept Jesus as your LORD and Savior, you open the door to your heart to the One who created it. When you give your burdens to Him, He promises to give you a lighter burden and an easier yoke. He promises peace that surpasses all understanding, and He promises that when you draw nearer to Him, He will draw nearer to you. Jesus knows how hard life is and he knows how horrible death is, both physical and spiritual death. God does not want any of us to go to Hell, so He gave us Jesus as a way to be restored to Him. I know that there will be challenges in this life, but understand they are nothing compared to the glory and splendor that is in heaven with Christ.

If you're ready for a change and a chance at a real life, turn to Jesus. He will never leave you or forsake you. Romans 8:1 says "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh , but according to the Spirit". When you are walking with Christ, you are free from condemnation, you are free from the penalty of sin and death. This is a huge deal y'all! This is an opportunity to be truly free! Living your life from addiction to addiction is not freedom! Going out every night getting high and drunk is not freedom! Chasing partner after partner is not freedom! Being held captive by sin is not freedom at all, and Jesus is the only way to be truly set free.

I pray this helps someone today. Jesus is waiting for you, and He wants to meet you right where you are. You don't need to get clean to follow Jesus. He has the power to clean you up as you follow Him.

God Bless.