Jesus changed the world!  That statement will find many people around the world in agreement; people who will argue that point until the cows come home.  By the way, when do the cows come home?

Two indicators we use here in the United States (and much of the rest of the world) is B.C. and A.D.  An alternative marks the same delineation of eras, but different lettering; B.C.E. and C.E.

B.C. is the abbreviation for “Before Christ” and A.D. is “Anno Domini” or “in the year of our Lord.”  B.C.E. stands for “Before Common Era” and C.E. for “Common Era.”

What is interesting about both of these breaks in the dating of history is that the standard is the same.  It happened around the time of Christ’s birth.  So no matter how you write your date it is the same; it all centers on Christ.  Jesus’ birth changed the world!

Another concept Jesus upended was the idea that man had to work his way into God’s favor.  Jesus taught that there is no way man can do enough good to win God’s favor. While many believe if that living a good life will ensure that God will accept you into His presence when you die, the question begs an answer; how do you know when you have done enough?

The answer is necessarily subjective, because who truly defines when enough is enough?  Who determines when our best is enough for God?  Mankind can’t set the bar, they are a created being with only the capacity God gave us.  No, God must define for us what it takes to enter His presence after we leave this earth.  Fortunately, Jesus answered this question with His life.

The short answer to how to be with God in heaven for eternity is “grace.”  Grace means getting what you don’t deserve, through the favor of God.  Noah found favor with God. He did not seek it but God gave it to him.

In the New Testament we read; “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).  One key word in this verse is “gave.”  God gave Jesus as a gift to the world so that they might attain eternal life.  He even set the bar ridiculously low…we merely needed to believe in Him, what He came to do, and who He was.

Paul the apostle illuminates the same truth using different words in Ephesians 2:8-9; “For by grace are you saved through faith, it is a gift of God, not as a result of works that no man should boast.”  It is entirely a gift from God that one is saved and can spend eternity in heaven with God.  It is a thing to be cherished, not worn as a badge of superiority over others.  The weak and the strong, the sick and the well, all stand before God with but a single question to answer; “Do you know My Son?”

One may ask, “How do I know if God will save me?  How can I know that He loves me?”  If you have a heart to ask those questions, then there is a pretty good possibility that you can be saved by God.  Remember “God so loved the world” and that includes you.  When you believe that, it will change your world.  You will go from B.C. “Before Christ” to living “in the year of our Lord” as one of His children; as full heirs to the Father.

A good father always looks out for his children, and there is no better Father than God.  If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, then your world will change.

If time itself bends to Jesus’ will, shouldn’t we?

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