If you are a fan of American films or TV sitcoms, then you must have heard the striking sentence: "Get a life." Such a sentence is often thrown at young people who sleep early at night because they are not invited to the "hottest" parties in town, male teenagers who have trouble getting a girlfriend and "losers" in general as they are mockingly called by those who are "cute" and "cool".

Soon, Philippine broadcast and advertising industries picked up this line and introduced variations like "Spice up your life". By conditioning the mind of the young, such films, TV shows and even commercials depict "life" as something that can be found in a fun-filled party overflowing with alcohol, sex, and adventure. The promotional gimmicks of San Miguel beer did just that.

Even in text messages, the same idea is being conveyed. Take for example the following: "Early to rise, early to bed, makes a man healthy and wise, but socially dead."

Get a life. It is like telling you, go get a life outside the comfort of your home and towards the company of cool people who dance crazily to the tune of the night where beer overflows, drugs are cheap and sex comes easily. So fascinated are you by the seductions of these earthly things that you begin to feel like seeking your own life in the groove of the night. Beware, my friend, because such hunt for life is dangerous.

Our Lord Jesus Christ said: "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it" (Matthew 10:39). Life, my friend, is not in the company of cool people but comes from the One who set us free from the bondage of sin. Paul said: "The mind of the sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace" (Romans 8:6).

Our sins brought all of us apart from God. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) As it is written, there is no one righteous, not even one (Romans 3:10). Being away from God means we are dead in sin. Paul said: "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient" (Ephesians 2:1-2).

The Bible warns that if we continue to live our old life in sin, we will get the punishment that we deserve. See, the day of the Lord is coming - a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger - to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it (Isaiah 13:9). Paul said that when Jesus Christ returns to Earth, "He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of His power" (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9).

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). God loves us so much that "He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). He sent His son Jesus Christ from heaven to die as a man for our sins. By dying on the cross, Jesus Christ redeemed our sins and now offers us a new life.

So if you want to find life, find it in Jesus. John the apostle said: "God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the son does not have life" (I John 5:11-13). Only Jesus Christ, and nobody else, is the way to life. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12).

Salvation from sin is a pure grace from God, and no amount of human effort can bring us closer to God. He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy (Titus 3:5 in part). Paul said: "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).

By accepting Jesus Christ as the One who saved us from the punishment we deserve, we transport from death to life. Paul said: "When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins" (Colossians 2:13). John the apostle said: "Whoever hears God's word and believe in Him who sent Jesus Christ has eternal life. He has crossed over from death to life" (John 5:24).

This life in Jesus is different from the nightlife of the earth. "For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:13).

Jesus died for us, so that we will be completely healed from the sins that brought us death. "He was pierced for our transgression, He was crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5-6).

What Jesus Christ offers us is the grace of salvation. He wants us to have a new life free from sin. "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17)

This life in Jesus Christ is eternal. Jesus said: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die" (John 11:25-26).

It is also great to know that our life in Jesus removes our discriminating heart that favors only the "cute" and "cool" and gives us happiness in the company of people, even they are not beautiful, rich or famous . The presence of the Holy Spirit in us enables us to love and show kindness to others. "The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23).

In Jesus Christ, we have a new life. We can look forward to a future that holds eternal joy. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation (Isaiah 12:3). We rejoice at the fact that "our citizenship is in heaven" (Philippians 3:20).

We say these things to you because these are true, and because God wants you to know that He loves you very much. The psalmist exhorts us to "give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever" (Psalm 136:1).

If you are looking for the meaning of life, stop looking at earthly things and lift up your face to Jesus. Jesus is knocking at your heart. Listen to His voice as He says: "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on His throne. (Revelation 3: 20-21).

God, the most high, I praise You for my life. I thank You for sending Jesus Christ from Heaven, so that He can give me a new life. I confess that I am a sinner and receive the grace of your salvation through Jesus Christ. From now on, I accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and allow Him to prevail upon my old self so that He will lead me from death to life. Glory to You, our God in the highest. I pray, in the name of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen!

My friend, if you want to know more about the life offered by Jesus Christ and the wonderful things that He has done for us, we invite you to visit these websites: http://emmaus.50megs.com and http://www.cbphilippines.org or send an email to juan@txtmania.com or fill up the forms below.