April 15, 2006

THE REAL (ESTATE) STORY
By Larry Underhill

TOMORROW’S THE DAY! Tomorrow a large part of the world’s population will enjoy their biggest and most important celebration of the year: The celebration of the day Jesus Christ returned to life after being killed on a cross.

If you’re not a Christian, the whole idea of Christianity may make little sense to you. I know it was that way for me. Let me invite you to look deeper.

I WAS TALKING with my friend John Rodriguez this morning. He observed that while John 3:16 is the Bible verse most people recognize, John 3:17 is just as important. John 3:16 is the familiar, “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.” The next verse (verse 17) says, “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”

Save the world? From what?

“SAVED”: I remember when that “Christianese” word was a totally unfamiliar concept to me, as it may be to you as you read this. As I hitchhiked around the nation in the late sixties and early seventies, well-meaning people seemed to be forever asking me if I was “saved”. I didn’t resent the question, because these were very nice people who obviously cared about me (at least enough to give me a ride or a place to crash!). I know now that God used those folks and others to begin to get my attention.

LATER, when I had encountered another Biblical personality, namely Satan, I became very much aware of my need to be saved…rescued…from the life I was living. That’s the one great advantage of having come face to face with one’s own spiritual bankruptcy: I have no illusions about my own “goodness” or “worthiness”. I know I’ve been SAVED, rescued by Jesus, not based on my own virtue but because of His unconditional love.

UNCONDITIONAL: I went to Dictionary.com for some definitions: “Without conditions or limitations. Absolute. Not modified or restricted by reservations. Unqualified.” Jesus puts no conditions on His love for us. As the Apostle Paul notes in the book of Romans, “While we were still sinners Christ died for us.”

Christianity is a “come as you are party”. John 3:17 says that Jesus didn’t come to condemn us, but to save us (rescue us). In John 15:13, Jesus says, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” I’m SO glad to be counted among His friends.

QUESTIONS? This Jesus thang is worthy of your consideration. I can tell you that choosing to follow Him has made all the difference in my life. Check out any of the many Easter celebrations that will take place tomorrow. My church, Horizon, will hold two resurrection parties tomorrow at the Galt High School gym, one at nine and one at eleven for the sleepyheads. You’re invited.

Statesman RealtyLodi, CA

(209) 333-2380

1-800-407-SOLD (7653)

www.LarrySellsLodi.com

www.larryunderhill.com

Email: Larry@LarryUnderhill.com