Why do I have to pay for the sin of Adam and Eve when I wasn't even around back then?" I would venture to say, many others have too, wouldn't you?

My mind goes to the scene in a hospital. A mother is in labor and in extreme pain. Dad tries to comfort, but there is nothing he can do but love, support and pray. Mom pushes and pushes and finally, a beautiful, blonde, blue eyed baby girl. They go home and they start their life together, Dad, Mom and baby. (Hopefully God too)

Baby starts to walk and soon to run. Baby starts school and is soon graduating from Pre-School. Baby is playing in the yard and becomes very sick. Baby is taken to the Hospital and treated for a stomach virus. Mom gets phone call.........

"Mom", the Doctor say's, "Your baby contracted the HIV virus during birth. We tried to prevent it, but it happened anyway." Mom hangs up the phone and looks at Baby and says, "I'm sorry Baby, but you will have to die because of my mistake." Baby looks at Mom and say's, "don't cry mommy, it will be OK." Mom tells Dad. Mom, Dad and Baby soon will die from AIDS.

Dad becomes fatally ill and Dies. Mom and Baby bury Daddy. Mommy gets very sick, and Baby watches as they lower mommy's casket into the ground. Baby is left.

Baby is in school. All her friends cling to her at first because she is very beautiful. They find out Baby has AIDS, and they never speak to her or play with her again. They treat her like an outcast. Baby asks the question, "Why should I die because of what my parents did?" Baby wants an answer. Baby says it is not her fault. Baby is right. But Baby will still die.

Baby asks God why? God replies, "Baby, I never wanted the world to be the way it is. Sickness, murder, hunger, famine, pain, hate, AIDS, Child abuse, additions, drugs, loneliness, fear, divorce, nor any other thing that would cause pain. My intent was for all mankind to live in perfect harmony and in perfect health. For you see, I made man and woman in a perfect state. They could choose to do anything they wanted.

I could have made mankind to do only what I wanted them to do, but I want them to have the free will to do what ever they choose to do. I don't want you to be like a puppet on a string doing only what I program you to do. I want you to enjoy life. Along with this free choice or free will, there comes responsibility along with the choice we make. Adam and Eve choose to disobey Me."

You probably know the story. God told Adam and Eve to eat from any tree from the garden except from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. He said, "surely as you eat from this tree you shall surely die." He was talking about their spirit. They ate from the tree and their spirit's died and their eyes were open to sin for the first time. You see, it is not a sin to be tempted, it is a sin to follow through with that sinful temptation. Eve was tempted and Adam was right there with her. They both decided to do wrong and we don't know how we would have reacted, but I can assure you, that if Adam and Eve were perfect and without sin, and they fell to the temptation, I don't know about you, but I'm sure I would have fell to.

God was showing us that we need Him. We can't make it on our own. We are sinful by our very nature and that sin comes from Satan. Satan is the one to blame and Jesus is the one to seek for forgiveness. This world has good and evil, and this world has God and the Devil. Look how the words work together, good = God; evil = Devil. If you remove a "o" from good you get God. If you add a "d" to evil you get Devil. Remember, God loves us and has provided a way for us to "come back to Him" through the blood that Jesus Christ shed at Calvary. John 3:16.

Do you remember in the garden what Adam and Eve were wearing at first? They were naked weren't they? This was perfectly natural and their was no shame in nakedness, but after they sinned and ate from the tree of good and evil, they were ashamed of their nakedness or flesh and tried to cover it up. Do you remember what they used to cover themselves with? Yes, Fig leaves, but did the fig leaves hide their

wrong or did it cover their nakedness and shame from God? No. You see, their is no remission or forgiveness of sin without the shedding of blood. So there had to be a blood sacrifice of an animal to cover the sin from God's presence, (by the way, sin always brings on death). Their spirit's died, but God had mercy on them and provided a sacrifice for them that they may be reunited with God. Our sacrifice today is

The Lamb of Calvary, God's one and only Son Jesus Christ, who shed His Blood for our sin. As the song say's, "Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe, sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow."

In John chapter 3, Jesus is talking to one of the Religious leaders and tells him that we must be born again. Well, look at the Scripture for yourself,

John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:..............

John 3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi,

we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say

unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of

God.

John 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is

old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a

man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the

kingdom of God.

John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which

is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Born again, what does that mean? We were perfect at one time and our spirit's were alive. We were in complete fellowship with God. But because our parents (Adam and Eve) sinned, like Baby's parents did, we will suffer the consequences just like Baby. Life is not fair Matthew, but God is Good. However, there is hope for us today. God provided His Son Jesus that we might be born again. our spirits are dead and we need Jesus in our lives to forgive us for our sin and make our spirits alive.

Jesus is God and only God can forgive sin. We must place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ for the remission or forgiveness of that sin. Remember the animal that had to be killed and the blood that was shed in the garden for Adam, and Eve? Jesus is that sacrifice for our sin and the Bible say's all we have to do is call on the name of Jesus and He will save us. Romans 10:13 "For whosoever shall call upon the name of

the Lord shall be saved."

Heaven is a free gift, Jesus paid the price for us to go there and there is no other way to Heaven except through Jesus. John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." We must also realize that we are a sinner and need a Savior. Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." We all have sinned and need our Savior and His name is Jesus Christ. Jesus Died on a cross for our sin's. He became sin in our place and paid the price for us. All we have to do is ask Him to forgive us. The price or blood sacrifice has already been made. Hebrews 10:10 "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" Not only did Jesus Christ die on the cross for our sin, but He rose from the dead and won the victory over death Hell and the grave, that we to might raise from the dead and live forever with Him in Heaven. We do not serve a dead Savior. He is alive and well.

We must have faith in Jesus alone for Eternal life. We must confess our sin, 1 John 1:8-9, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (But) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." If we ask God to forgive our sin, He will.

What happens to our sins once we confess them to God? Ps. 103:12 "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us."

Jer. 31:34 "For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." Micah 7:19 "He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and thou will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea" As a friend of mine that's gone on to be with the Lord would say," And then he puts up a no fishing sign."

So, what happens to our sin? God forgives it and then never remembers it again. Isn't that wonderful! All because of Jesus and the price He paid on Calvary, we may go Free. John 8:36 "For whom the son sets free is free indeed." (paraphrased)

Have you ever received this free gift of Eternal Life? You can today by asking Jesus to forgive you for your sin and asking Him into your life right now. You can pray this prayer to God and he will save you and make your spirit alive again and make you born again. Read the following prayer and see if it expresses the desire of your heart.

"Dear God, I know that Jesus is Your Son and that He died on the cross and was raised from the dead. Because I have sinned and need forgiveness, I ask Jesus to come into my heart. I am willing to change the direction of my life by acknowledging Jesus as my Lord and Savior, and by turning away from my sins. Thank You for giving me forgiveness, eternal life, and hope. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Use this prayer if it expresses your feelings, or pray a similar prayer in your own words, committing your life to Jesus and asking Him for His gift of eternal life.

Your life is eternally secure in God. "For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)

What happens now after you have Received this Hope from God, you will begin to live for God.

(Romans 12:1-2,9-19) You will publicly profess your faith by being baptized. (Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 3:21; Romans 6:4) You will want to share with others what Jesus has done for you. (Romans 10:14) You will get to know God better through prayer, Bible study, and fellowship with other Christians as a member of a local church.

Right now, however, the most important thing you can do is contact someone, perhaps someone at a local church near you, to whom you can share this experience. This person will be able to help you get started down your new life in Christ. If you would like for us to contact a church in your area, Please E-mail us at babyjesus@msn.com. We will point you to a good Bible teaching church that will be happy to lead you to an assurance of your eternal salvation and to help you get started on your New Life in Christ.

Oh yea, remember Baby? Well, Baby found a great person in school that would listen to her and love her for the person she was and they became best friends. Her new friend took her to church to a Wednesday Night Youth Bible Study. Baby heard about how much Jesus loves her and that he wants to come into her life and be Her savior. Baby got saved, and later she died and went to Heaven.

By Wade Jones