Someone is missing . . . something is wrong! Your Creator is the end of your search for answers. Here are four secrets for beginning a great relationship with God.

1. There Is a Relationship You Are Created to Have
In nine words God tells us why we are here on planet Earth. "All things were created by him and for him" (Colossians 1:16). You were created by God to have a personal relationship with him.

God wants you to know him. "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent" (John 17:3).

Until you meet God you will have a sense of incompleteness.

2. There Is a Relationship You Don't Have Because of Sin
"But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear" (Isaiah 59:2). "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). We all lose. The middle letter of sin is "I" - the essence of sin, which says, "I'll do it my way."

Like believing that the sun revolves around the earth, we have decided to have God revolve around us. The problem is that people don't have God. The center isn't there. Hell means that when you die, this unfilled relationship will stay that way forever - with no pain relievers or substitutes to take away that missing-ness of God.

3. There Is a Relationship You Can Have Because of What Jesus Did
"For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God" (1 Peter 3:18). Who is the one who has nothing wrong with him? Jesus. Who are the ones who have something wrong with them? Us.

We need to get back to God. "God is on one side and man is on the other and Christ bridges the gap" (1 Timothy 2:5, LB). Jesus wiped out the things keeping us from God. He paid our bill for us with his money.

The three most radical words in the Bible are "not by works." "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). Good is not a payment for bad; all the good in the world will not pay for the bad. The good news is that Somebody else paid our bill.

"Reconciliation" is a relationship word, putting a relationship back together again.

4. You Have to Choose this Relationship
Two terms describe entering into a relationship with God - repent and turn to God. "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord" (Acts 3:19).

How do you choose? You turn from running your own life, from the things that hurt God. You cannot hold onto your baggage and jump to Jesus at the same time. He will apply his life to your life - as you repent and turn to God, he will enter your life. "Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12). Pinning your hopes on Jesus as your only hope to save you (like a lifeguard) is real belief.

Five Things You Can Do with Jesus
There are five things people do with Jesus:

1. Reject him - few do.
2. Ignore him - often done.
3. Postpone him - many do.
4. Agree with him - many come this far, but good people don't get saved by agreeing.
5. Commit yourself to him - pin all your hopes on him.

Entering into a relationship with God is saying, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).

It's one-on-one, coming to God. Walk up the hill to where Jesus died and choose him.

Do you want this relationship with God? You can enter into a personal relationship with God right now where you are. Why would you want to live one more day without that very relationship you are looking for?

Just put into words what you are saying to God - that you want to pin all your hopes on him. It's hard to put deep feelings into words, but it's better. Plus a month from now, you'll know what you did.

Here is a suggested prayer: "God, I realize that I was created to have a relationship with you. I don't have it, but I want it. I repent of my sin and turn to you as my Savior. I pin all my hopes on Jesus to save me. I want you to be the center of my life as Lord. Thank you! Amen."

Sign and date this prayer to affirm your commitment:


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If you prayed this prayer and made this commitment to Christ for the first time in your life, welcome to the family of God! You've started a great relationship with God!