As evidenced by the seemingly limitless success of the Avengers series of movies by Marvel, particularly the latest installment (Avengers Endgame), Americans are drawn to a story of heroes saving the universe. What if we had a real-life story of triumph over evil?
The good news is we do, and his name is Jesus.
I watched the Avengers movies, including Endgame. I enjoyed them. Endgame will easily become the top-grossing movie of all time, and it’s difficult not to appreciate the epic-ness of the production, the acting level and the writing.
But, what if we had a story far greater than anything a Hollywood script could ever hope to convey?
And what if that story had real and transforming power to save people right here, right now?
Our Savior was born with all of the features of the God of the universe. He gave up his place in an incomprehensibly magnificent kingdom to come to a sin-infected earth. He didn’t have to do this, but the reason he became a human being was so that he could be brutally and unjustly murdered for you and me. He paid the price for the sin of every person.
But that’s not even the best part.
Three days after he was killed on a wooden cross, he rose from the dead. And in so doing, he defeated and triumphed over death, hell and the grave forever!
When I say we have a Savior who did these things, the “we” includes everyone. It doesn’t matter where you were born, what you look like, who your parents were or what you’ve done in your life. All have sinned (Romans 3:23), and Jesus came to seek and to save those who are lost (Luke 19:10).
Please understand, the gospel is not a movie script. This is a real-life decision with real-life consequences.
Heaven is the real eternal destination for all who believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Anyone can believe. All it takes is a simple prayer to receive Jesus into your life, and the kingdom of heaven will be yours.
As for the alternative, it is real also. There is no make-believe place of death from which the Avengers can suspend the time continuum and save you. There is a hell. It is unimaginably horrific, and it is the certain destination of all who do not believe in Jesus Christ (Matthew 13:42).
Take a few minutes to dwell on these verses from the Bible:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17 – NIV)
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 – NIV)
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10 – NIV)
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 – NIV)
