by Peter Frantz

Created on: January 13, 2008

What if you had committed a terrible crime and would inevitably end up in jail for decades, then your best friend comes up and tells you that he is willing to pay your way out at the cost of his own life. This, my friends, is Christianity.

Many Christians in the world today lead themselves to believe that Christianity is one big checklist. If I A) go to church, B) pray before bed, C) own a Bible, D) act charitably and E)stay away from excessive alcohol, swearing and strippers, then God will let me into heaven. They force themselves into believing that God has constructed this elaborate formula that they must live by if they want to be blessed with eternal life. But in all reality, the way to heaven (and paradise in the Kingdom of the Lord) is as simple as thus: give your heart, mind and body to Jesus Christ.

Well, what does that mean exactly? God did not give the world step-by-step instructions on how to surrender your life to an invisible deity, or did he? The story of His love for the world is just what we need. He was born into this world with the sole mission of teaching love, and he left this world with the perfect illustration of that love. His death on the cross saved everyone in the world from a horrible demise. What a gift! Now, how does one use the story of God's love for the world to live out a meaningful life? It all starts with faith that God does have the best in mind for all of his people, no matter what the world may suggest. He loves us and cares for us all as a father loves a son or daughter. Sometimes he puts his children through hardships, but that will only cause them to grow and mature.

So back to the issue of simplicity. Those who believe in Jesus Christ have only one calling: allow the love that God has poured into you to spill out onto others. This can happen through praying for you friends and enemies or reading the Bible with someone you care about. It's important to realize that the checklist referenced earlier is not the way to God, but the things that flow from individuals who love God and the world he created.

Learn more about this author, Peter Frantz.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.