Five Reasons Why You Should Be a Christian

THERE are many reasons as high as heaven and as holy as God why all

responsible persons should be Christians. Many are not Christians because

they have not been caused to see sufficient reasons why they should be. In this

article we want to point out a few of the reasons why we should be Christians.

Sinners Unfit to Meet God

All responsible beings who are not Christians are sinners, hence are unfit

to meet God. We are going to meet him, and we ought to be making

preparation for this meeting. "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the

living God." (Heb. 10:31.) From Rom. 5:12 we learn this: "Wherefore, as by

one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed

upon all men for that all have sinned." And then in Rom. 3:23 we have this

striking language: ''For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."

We cannot go to heaven in our sins. "And there shall in no wise enter into it

any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh

a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." (Rev. 21:27.) My

friend, is your name written there? You are not going to heaven because you

have or have had a Christian father, mother, wife, husband, or some other dear

one who was a genuine Christian. "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision

availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.' (Gal. 6:15.)God Has Provided Salvation

God knew we were lost. God knew we needed salvation. He loved us

sufficiently to provide for our salvation. "For God so loved the world, that he

gave his only begotten Son. that whosoever believeth in him should not

perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16.) The blood of Jesus Christ will

save us from our sins. Nothing else under God's shining stars will do it. "But

if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with

another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1

John 1:7.) Paul told the elders of Ephesus that the church had been purchased

with the blood of Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:28.) Are you within the purchased

possession? If you are not, you are in a lost condition. Salvation is in Christ,

not out of him.

God Offers You Salvation Now

Some one has said that hell will be full of people who did not intend to

go there. What does this mean? It simply means that many will put off

salvation until it is eternally too late. God has not promised to save you next

week, or next month, or next year, but he has promised to save you now:

''Behold, now is the accepted time: behold, now is the day of salvation." (2

Cor. 6:2.) Jesus gave this great invitation to fallen humanity: "Come unto me,

all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke

upon you. and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find

rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matt.

11:28-30.) In the last chapter of the Bible we have this stirring appeal: "And

the Spirit and the Bride say. Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And

let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life

freely." (Rev. 22:17.) "Come now. and let us reason together, saith the Lord:

though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be

red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isa. 1:18.)Life Is Uncertain

Our lives here are very uncertain. We are here today, but we do not know

that we shall be here tomorrow. When David was being hounded by Saul, he

gave expression to his soul thus: •'But truly as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul

liveth, there is but a step between me and death." (1 Sam. 20:3.) How true!

How true! In the New Testament we read it after this fashion: "Whereas ye

know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a

vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." (James

4:14.)

In Luke 12:16-21 we have a parable which Jesus spoke concerning a man

who was too much wrapped up in the affairs of this life. This man was a

farmer. His ground brought forth plentifully. He did not have room where to

bestow his fruits. He did not know what to do. Finally he decided to pull

down his old barn and build greater and there bestow all his fruits and his

goods. He contemplated a happy day when he would be able to say: "Soul,

thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and

be merry." How did his plans work out? Listen: "But God said unto him, Thou

fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those

things be, which thou hast provided?" Dear reader, do not be a fool. You do

not know but that your soul may be required this night. Are you ready?

Judgment Awaits the Christ Rejector

It is appointed unto men once to die. ''And as it is appointed unto men

once to die, but after this the judgment." (Heb. 9:27.) What is in store for

those who do not obey the gospel of Jesus Christ? Hear it: "And to you who

are troubled rest with us. when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven

with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not

God. and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be

punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from

the glory of his power." (2These. 1:7-9.) What a fearful thing to contemplate! The judgment and eternal

damnation are before the individual "who dies out of the Lord.

My kind reader, if you are not a Christian, will you not think as you have

never thought before? Will you not examine the five reasons here given for

being a Christian and haste to obey the gospel of Jesus Christ by faith,

repentance, confession, and baptism? In this way, and in this way only, can

you be saved from your past sins. Then after becoming a Christian, remain one

while life remains for you. and then go home to glory after awhile. Blessed

consummation! Happy Christian!