DON'T BE TRICKED! Avoid the "Tricks"Some people say "Wait until you're older to think about believing in God."But when God's son, Jesus Christ, came to earth to live he said, "Let the children come to me and do not hinder them" (Matthew 19:13). Jesus loves kids and wants them to know him and his Father! Others say "It doesn't really matter what you believe about God." But the Bible says that Jesus, God's Son, is the ONLY way you can ever know God. Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).
Another thing people say is "Believing in Jesus is boring."
But listen to what Jesus said about those who believe in him, "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). "Boring" isn't something Jesus ever had in mind for those who believe in him.
Follow the Truth
Don't be tricked by things people say about God. It's much safer to let God speak for himself in the Bible. You'll discover that he has only truth to share and absolutely no tricks. Truths like these...
God and his Son Jesus love us.
"God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). That's real love, to die to save someone else's life!
But why would Jesus have to die for us? Because he knew that the bad things we do--things like selfishness, lies, hatred, and disobedience--are the reasons we aren't automatically part of God's family. God calls those sins and he says sins have very serious consequences: "the wages of sin is [eternal] death" (Romans 6:23). That means being separated from God forever.
Remember how Jesus loved kids when he was on earth? It makes sense that he would make a way for kids--and adults too--to have their sins forgiven and someday go to heaven. Here's how he did it. He became a human like us, lived a perfect life, then he took God's punishment for our sins by dying on the cross! That's right, he "suffered once for sins...that he might bring us to God" (1 Peter 3:18). Then Jesus came back to life, proving that God had accepted his substitution for us!
Jesus invites you into his "forever family."
Those who truly believe Jesus died in their place receive God's forgiveness of sin and become part of God's family. "To all...who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12). God promises them a home in heaven after this life. Jesus said, "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish" (John 10:28)!
Don't be tricked by things people say about God. Instead, believe what God says in the Bible and receive his forgiveness and the gift of eternal life. If you truly want that you can tell God in words like these: "Dear God, I'm sorry for my sins. I believe Jesus died for me to take the punishment I deserve for my sins. I want your forgiveness and I want to live a life that pleases you. Thank you for making it possible for me to be part of your forever family!"
