If there's a BIG HONKIN' HOLE IN YOUR LIFE...

God is real, He loves you, and He does have just the greatest plan for your life.

Yeah, yeah, I know, you've heard those words before, and they may sound trite. They've been sobbed by big-haired televangelists' wives who don't have even that much good taste in makeup. They've been intoned by joyless fatalists whose religion is a social habit on Sundays. They've become jargon that's spieled like a good luck charm promised to cure all life's ills. So it may sound corny, it may sound empty, it may sound too simple and easy.

Regardless of those who have assimilated the message, it's absolutely true.

Now whether you choose to receive God's love is another matter, and I'll be up front with you: it's not an easy gift to receive. It requires entering into a relationship with Him. Yes, a real and true relationship just like you might have with anybody else (Well, except it's with... God). You get to know Him, you learn what He wants out of the relationship, you learn what you get out of it. He's your new best friend. He is also the Lord of Lights, the Alpha and the Omega, the ageless Most High who loved His humans so much He sacrificed His only son so that we might never... ever... die. Anybody else love you that much?

Can you imagine condemning your own child to that fate? Jesus took the penalty for all of our mistakes, our shortcomings, our sins, all those things that would keep us out of God's paradise— by dying in our place. And Jesus did it because God loves us that much. And when Jesus arose from the grave, God showed us that none of us ever have to succumb to death.

Now in addition to that (like that's not better than anything you could win on Jeopardy! I'll take "Salvation" for all eternity, Alex), He has this great plan for every day, every moment of your life here and now. He's like the universe's best Cruise Director, because let's face it, who has better credentials? I know it's kind of hard to wrap your mind around the concept that the omnipotent Creator of all that is can be concerned with this little speck of dust that is you, but some things you have to take on faith. Remember, there is nothing He is not capable of doing, of being.

Ah, yes, faith. Let's talk about that for a moment, shall we? Everybody wants proof that God is real, that He exists. But one of the difficulties of the gift is that you accept God on His terms, on faith alone, without proof. Because that's what faith is: believing in that which cannot be proven. That would include things like integrity, a conscience, and love. But on the flip side, once you make that leap, God will reveal Himself to you, and you'll have your very own personal proof that nobody can take away.

Not everybody will hear these words, and that's okay because I know that many are called, but few are chosen. But if you hear that voice whispering from the mountains, God will give you the faith. When you turn to God in honesty, He'll be there beside you. Open your heart and trust, and just talk to Him. Ask His forgiveness. Tell Him you accept the gift of His son as your Savior, that you believe Jesus died for you and rose again, that you accept Him as the King of who you are. But you can't say those words without meaning them and expect to be zapped by a bolt of Salvation Lightning. They aren't some magic incantation that will innoculate you from the reality of hell. Being saved isn't a one-time ordeal. It means entering into a relationship that will last the rest of your life, which will turn out to be a very, very long time!

It won't always be easy after that. Every relationship takes work to make it worthwhile. But - how nice for you! - God will do it all for you when you ask. He will strengthen your faith, keep you out of trouble, and give you the grace to bear the difficulties you will encounter. Hey, you're going to have tough times anyway! It's much easier when you face them with the Most High on your side. All things do work for the greater good for them that love God. Ask and you will receive, knock and the door will open. Just remember that first you must seek His kingdom. Study your Bible (He'll help you understand it like never before through an added bonus we like to call the Holy Spirit) and don't worry, you'll actually want to read it. Meet other Faithful, and don't worry, you'll actually want to go to church! And pray. He will be your best friend. Tell Him everything, all your problems, ask His advice, go ahead and dish. And listen.

Just don't wait too long. Somebody once told me, "I know He's real, but I'm not ready yet." Okay, well fine, but remember, God doesn't need you. Answering His call will be the grandest thing you ever do. He is the truest, greatest friend, teacher, and father you will ever have. He will never forsake you or abandon you, even unto death. You will never again be alone. And you will spend forever in paradise. That's not my promise, that's His.