Sharing the Good news with a Child

[WartHog]

Brothers and Sisters,

A friend on a car forum posted a forwarded request for us to send Christmas cards to a young boy (she did not have any info about him except this is probably his last Christmas and he wanted to get cards from a lot of different places). So, I am sending him a card and I want to share God's love with him. I don't know if he, or his parents are saved. Here's what I came up with. Please let me know what you think, but I've got to get the card out by Saturday. BTW, if anyone else wants to send him a card (sorry about the short notice) please pm me for the address and I'll reply back tonight.

Thanks. Here it is:

Jacob,

My name is James Barnes. I live in Louisville, KY. I was asked to send a Christmas card to you and I was happy to do that. :) I was told you're not feeling well. I'm sorry for your pain and suffering. I'd like to introduce you to someone else who suffered and was in pain. His name is Jesus Christ.

When God created Adam and Eve (the very 1st Man and Woman), He put them in a beautiful garden. God told them they could eat anything they wanted except the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Well, guess what? Yep, you're right. They ate fruit from that tree! When they did that they disobeyed God. They committed a sin against God. That was the 1st sin. Now, every person who is born (you and me too) is born into sin because of that. When we do something we know is wrong, it is a sin. If we cheat, lie, steal, disobey our parents, be mean to someone, not loving God - all the bad things we do is sin.

God is perfect and He created all things. Since He is perfect, He hates sin (the bad things we do) and cannot allow sin to be around Him. If we are not forgiven for our sins, then we can never be allowed in God's presence. All sinners must be punished for their sins and they will be separated from God for all eternity in a place called Hell. OR every sinner can be forgiven of their sins and spend eternity in Heaven with God.

Jacob, because God loves all of us so completely and perfectly, He created a way for us to be forgiven of our sins, and be allowed into Heaven with Him. That's how we come back to Jesus Christ.

Jesus is God's Son and Jesus is God too. I know, kind of hard to understand. :) So, Jesus is perfect and without sin and He loves us completely too. God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins. He volunteered to take our eternal punishment in place of us. He was crucified and died on a cross so that we can be forgiven and spend eternity with Him and God. After he died and was buried, Jesus rose from the dead three days later. When He rose again He defeated sin and the Devil forever.

In order for each of us (sinners) to be forgiven for our sins, it's as simple as the ABCs :)

A—Admit to God that you are a sinner. When you choose to do things your way instead of God’s way, it is sin. Sin separates you from God. All people need to admit to God they have sinned and ask for God’s forgiveness (If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9).

B—Believe that Jesus is God’s Son and accept God's gift of forgiveness. Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin. God loved you so much that God sent his only Son to die for the world and for you (For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16).

C—Confess Jesus as your Savior and Lord. When you become a Christian, you are saying that you want God to forgive you and that you want Jesus to be your “boss” (Romans 10:9-10).

Prayer
If you want to talk to God about accepting Jesus as your Savior, no words are better than your own words. If you need a little help, you can pray like this: "God, I know that you love me. I believe that Jesus is your Son and that Jesus died for me. I admit I have sinned and chosen to do things my way instead of your way. Please forgive me of my sin. As of today, Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Amen."

When you talk to God and do the "ABCs" you will become a Christian. Being a Christian is simply believing in God and accepting His only Son for your salvation.

Jacob, I don't know anything about you and your family. But I wanted to share the Good News about Jesus with you. I hope this letter makes sense to you and please, if you have any questions for me you can email me at: JesusLovesYouToo@att.net

[micah719]

Won't be able to make it with the card, but I'm praying for Jacob and his folks, for all blessings. Spot on, Mr W. Hog.

[WartHog]

I understand. Europe's just a little too far for next wed. :) Thanks, Micah.

[WartHog]

I'm going to include this message for his family. I don't even know if he's got a Mom or Dad.

Dear Hadcock family,

I know you don't know me and I don't know you. Since I don't know anything about Jacob except he wanted lots of Christmas cards :) I ask that if he's too young to understand what I've written in my letter to him, please put the story of Jesus into words he'll understand. I cannot imagine what you're going through. I don't know how much he's suffering, or if he's in pain. But I do know God loves him and everyone in your family. And God does not want Jacob, or any of us, to be separated from Him for all eternity. I truly have no idea how, or what, you all believe. However, if you are not a Christian, or have never really thought much about God please consider this: He never wanted us to feel pain or suffering. He is here and now waiting and wanting to help you through this ordeal if you just ask. And to someday enjoy all of us living pain free and forever healthy forever with Him. I ask you to search your hearts and you will find God waiting for a relationship with you.

I have included my email and home address in my letter to Jacob. Please contact me if there is anything I can do for anyone in your family.

With respect and Brotherly Love,

[anath]

I will send little Jason a card from New Orleans today.

[micah719]

Um, in the letter to the parents I'd put in something about the cross and the need for perfect righteousness rather than leave the door open to relative righteousness....tell them that they might be good folks evidenced by their love for their child, but how good is good enough? Perfection, and thats a gift. How would they feel if they gave someone a gift out of Love and the recipient wanted to pay them for it...a bit insulted, perhaps? Gotta be careful not to give folks the impression the answer lies within, that's the new-age line...

[mattfivefour]

Very nicely said, Jim. I pray the Lord touch Jacob's heart and hsi parents hearts as he reads what you have written.

[WartHog]

Thanks for the additional input Micah.

Anath, address is in your inbox. :)

Adrian, thanks for the support.

[WartHog]

I changed the letter to the family a little @ Micah's suggestion. Tell me what yuo think please.

Dear Hadcock family,

I know you don't know me and I don't know you. Since I don't know anything about Jacob (like his age) except he wanted lots of Christmas cards I ask that if he's too young to understand what I've written in my letter to him, please put the story of Jesus into words he'll understand. I cannot imagine what you're going through. I don't know how much he's suffering, or if he's in pain. But I do know God loves him and everyone in your family. And God does not want Jacob, or any of us, to be separated from Him for all eternity. I truly have no idea how, or what, you all believe. However, if you are not a Christian, or have never really thought much about God please consider this: God is perfect and He created Man. Man sinned against God and we continue to live in sin. If we do not believe that Jesus is the Son of God, died on the cross and rose again on the 3rd day, we will go to Hell and suffer eternity there separated from God. I know you love Jacob and you are good people as evidenced by that love. But we can never be good enough to be forgiven for our sins - NEVER good enough without the cleansing Blood of Jesus. Jesus died and rose again so that we can have eternal life with Him. Even though we can never be good enough, Jesus' Blood covers our sins. God's perfect grace is sufficient. God never wanted us to feel pain or suffering. He is here, and now, waiting and wanting to help you through this ordeal if you just ask. And to someday enjoy all of us living pain free and forever healthy forever with Him. I ask you to search your hearts and you will find God waiting for a relationship with you.

If you don't know Jesus as your Savior I ask you to lead Jacob in saying the prayer I put in his letter and I ask you to say it too.

I have included my email and home address in my letter to Jacob. Please contact me if there is anything I can do for anyone in your family.

[micah719]

Great work! Remember, it is the Gospel, that awful bloodstained cross and the miraculous empty tomb and the offer of grace and forgiveness through it, that sets the Lord's people apart. No new-agey feel-good DIY wish-wash can compete with it, it is the power of God working unto salvation. May the risen Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth work powerfully in that family and bless your efforts!

Isaiah 53:10
10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief and made Him sick. When You and He make His life an offering for sin [and He has risen from the dead, in time to come], He shall see His [spiritual] offspring, He shall prolong His days, and the will and pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.

Romans 1:16-17
16 For I am not ashamed of the Gospel (good news) of Christ, for it is God's power working unto salvation [for deliverance from eternal death] to everyone who believes with a personal trust and a confident surrender and firm reliance, to the Jew first and also to the Greek,
17 For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]. As it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith.

[WartHog]

^^^ I completely agree my Brother!

[myinnuendo999]

Amen WartHog that is just so precious... I pray he will receive the best Gift ever-Jesus

[WartHog]

Thank you. :)

[mattfivefour]

snopes.com: Christmas Cards for Jacob Hadcock

[WartHog]

Thanks for the link Adrian. I think I'll bookmark that website and start using Snopes. I don't feel our time was a loss though since I intend to use what we came up with on my website to help people tell their children about Jesus. :) I hope they @ least open it. I put a Wal-Mart gift card in there. :D Also, you never know. If God wants them to read that card they will.

[mattfivefour]

Exactly, bro! There was no waste at all. Sending forth the gospel is always worthwhile ... and, as you say, God can lead them to read that particular card! Awesome!