For Bible references in this video, check the description on YouTube.
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." —John 3:16-17
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." —Ephesians 2:8-9
Salvation is the forgiveness of our sins by God, based on our belief that Jesus paid the penalty for our sins. After we die, there are two options for our souls: eternal life or eternal death (Romans 6:23). To have eternal life is to be in God's presence forever, surrounded by all the goodness, light, and love that is Him (John 5:24). To have eternal death is to be separated from God forever, surrounded by darkness, evil, and pain (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). We have 100% control over the fate of our souls, and it's all dependent upon what we believe about Jesus.
"Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life." —1 John 5:10-13
No matter what your life looks like right now, salvation through Jesus Christ is waiting for you. No matter how big the hole in your heart is, Jesus can fill it to overflowing. Jesus said, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty" (John 6:35).
Have you been looking for the right path or real purpose in your life, but you can never seem to pin it down? Does it feel like someone threw a bag over your head, spun you around, and left you alone to find your way? If so, Jesus wants you to know, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12).
Do you ever feel like everyone gets the great things while you're stuck with the leftovers? Have you been opening doors and looking inside, only to find that there's nothing meaningful there? Jesus promises a fulfilling life—not just an existence of survival.
"I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture." —John 10:9
Have your friendships been disappointing and just plain empty? Do you feel like everybody is taking advantage of you? Jesus is here to bring you peace. He says, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me" (John 10:11, 14).
What happens after this life is over? There's no point in living for things that don't last, so why live at all? Jesus offers us an eternal state of joy after we die. He says, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die" (John 11:25-26).
There's one answer to all our questions about living a fulfilling life: Jesus Christ. "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).
That hunger in your soul is a spiritual hunger and can only be filled by Jesus. That darkness in your heart can only be chased out by Jesus. That satisfying life you desire can only be given by Jesus. That meaningful friendship you have always wanted, with someone who will never let you down, can only be filled by Jesus.
Jesus is the life—both in this world and the next. Jesus is the way of salvation!
The reason you hunger, the reason darkness overwhelms you, the reason you're struggling to find meaning in life, is because you are separated from God by an evil that goes way back to the beginning of humankind. The Bible says that everybody has sinned; no one is excused from the punishment for their evil. Because of this, we were separated from God (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:23) because God cannot stand sin.
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." —Romans 6:23
The empty space in your heart is the result of God being missing from your life. We were made to have a relationship with God, but because of our sin and our separation, we are cursed beings (Romans 6:23; John 3:36). The solution to this problem is so easy, it's kind of crazy.
Jesus took your sin and made Himself guilty of it (2 Corinthians 5:21). He died for you so that you wouldn't have to suffer (Romans 5:8). He took the punishment that you actually deserved. You (and every sin you have ever done or will do in the future) were on His mind as He hung on the cross, bleeding to death, in unimaginable physical pain. Then He did something that we could never do: He came back to life and proved that sin and death would never, ever hold Him down (Romans 6:4-5).
Jesus answered that question Himself: "Greater love has no one than this: that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). Jesus is your friend, He loves you dearly, and He died so that you could live a life with meaning on earth and a life of eternal joy after death!
If you believe that Jesus did this for you, and you trust that His death served as the payment for every sin that has or will be acted out in your life, then every bad thing you have ever done will be forgiven by God and your record will be wiped totally clean.
Your spiritual hunger will be satisfied. The lights will be turned on. You will see the path to a fulfilling life. You will recognize your true best friend who will never let you down. You will know that you can have life after you die—a resurrected life in heaven for eternity with Someone who loves you more than you could ever love anyone or anything.
"And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life." —1 John 5:11–13
Jesus took your sin and made Himself guilty of it (2 Corinthians 5:21). He died for you so that you wouldn't have to suffer (Romans 5:8). He took the punishment that you actually deserved. You were on His mind as He hung on the cross, bleeding to death, in unimaginable physical pain. Then He did something that we could never do: He came back to life and proved that sin and death would never, ever hold Him down (Romans 6:4-5). If you truly believe this, then TELL GOD, and He will reward you with a certain purpose and work His wonders through your life.
L.B. is a seasoned Christian writer who loves working with youth and inspiring others to live for Christ.
