The Choice Before You
At The First Chinese Church of Christ in Hawai‘i, we believe that following Jesus Christ is the most important decision you can make. The Bible teaches that there are two ways to live, and the path you choose will shape your life now and determine your eternity.
God is King
God is the Creator and the King of everything. He made the world, everything in it, and every one of us. God rules the world because He is the one who created it, and as our Creator, He has the right to guide how we live. He is good, loving, and just, and He desires for us to live in relationship with Him, enjoying the world He made and living under His authority.
The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
Psalm 103:19
God created us to know Him, honor Him, and live in harmony with His plans. Life works best when we live under His good and loving rule.
Man is Rebellious
WE ARE REBELLIOUS
But here’s the problem: instead of living under God’s rule, we have chosen to go our own way. From the very beginning, humanity decided to reject God and live by our own desires. This is called sin. Sin is not just doing bad things; it is choosing to live without God and rejecting His authority over our lives.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Romans 3:23
Each of us has ignored God’s commands in different ways. We have all chosen to live for ourselves instead of following God. This rebellion has separated us from God and led to brokenness, suffering, and pain in our lives.
Death is the Wage
Because God is holy and just, He must deal with our rebellion. The Bible teaches that the penalty for sin is death and separation from God. This is what we all deserve because of our sin — eternal separation from the One who created us to be in relationship with Him.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23
This separation from God is not just something that happens when we die; it’s a life lived apart from Him, with all the pain, emptiness, and struggles that come with rejecting God’s good rule.
For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
Colossians 1:16
Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.
Hebrews 9:27
Jesus: The Savior Who Died for Rebels
But God, in His incredible mercy, didn’t leave us in our rebellion. He sent His Son, Jesus, to rescue us. Jesus lived a perfect life, under God’s rule, and yet He died on the cross to take the punishment we deserved. By dying in our place, Jesus made it possible for us to be forgiven and restored to God.
Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.
1 Peter 3:18
Jesus’ death paid the price for our sins. He took the punishment for our rebellion, so that we could be forgiven and have a new life with God.
The Resurrection: Jesus is Alive
But Jesus’ death wasn’t the end. God raised Him from the dead, proving that He had conquered sin and death. Jesus is alive today, and He offers forgiveness and new life to anyone who will trust in Him. He is the King, and He will return one day to judge the world, but He also offers us the opportunity to receive new life through His death and resurrection.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
1 Peter 1:3
Jesus is the risen King, and because of His resurrection, we can have a fresh start, both now and for eternity.
The choice is before You
Now, we are faced with a choice:
Our Way
We can continue to live as though we are in charge of our lives, rejecting God’s rule. The result is death — both physical and spiritual — and eternal separation from God.
God’s Way
We can submit to Jesus as our Lord and Savior, trusting in His death and resurrection to forgive our sins. The result is forgiveness, eternal life, and being brought back into a relationship with God.
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.
JoHn 3:36
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
JoHn 3:16
The choice is clear.
We can choose to keep living our own way, or we can trust in Jesus and receive the gift of eternal life. The path you choose today will determine your future.
What to do now
Talk to God
The first step is to admit to God that you have sinned and ask for His forgiveness. You can do this by praying to Him and trusting in Jesus’ sacrifice for you.
Submit to Jesus
The next step is to submit to Jesus as your Lord. This means choosing to follow Him, obey His teachings, and live as He leads. It’s a decision to let Jesus be the ruler of your life.
Keep Trusting in Jesus
As you follow Jesus, continue to rely on His death and resurrection for forgiveness. Every time you fail (and we all do), remember that Jesus’ sacrifice is the reason you are forgiven. Trust in Him, and He will help you live the life He’s called you to.
Sample Prayer:
Dear God, I know that I have sinned against You and that I deserve punishment. Thank You for sending Jesus to die in my place. I believe He rose from the dead to give me new life. Please forgive me and help me live under Jesus’ rule from now on. Amen.