Pick a card, any card. Such a simple beginning, but from there the card trick can go in many different directions. Your chosen card can be found in a different location, manipulated to a different section of the deck, even turned around backwards in the deck! Your card can change colors, appear in a bursting balloon, or end up hanging on the back of your shirt.

Pick a card, any card. Hand it back without the magician knowing the card, shuffle the deck until the card is thoroughly hidden, and with only the slightest effort he will reveal the card you chose. He may cause your card to float out of the deck deposited in a glass, appear as the only blue-back card in a red-back deck, but it will be the card you picked.

Pick a card, any card. Make a decision. Life holds out to us an abundance of choices, like the deck fanned out for us to pick. Then, like a card shuffled back into the deck, our decisions are quickly lost to time and other circumstances. But the day is coming when the secret things of life, and the hidden thoughts and intents of our hearts will be revealed at the judgment seat of God. We may say that in time all is forgotten, but as the magician reveals the card formerly lost in the deck, the Judge of the living and the dead will call our sins back to mind for judgment. The Bible says, "There is nothing covered that will not be revealed" (Matt. 10:26).

At the conclusion of the card trick, the magician may open an envelope that reveals a note which accurately predicted the card you chose. The Bible, the Word of God, tells us that we can know ahead of time the outcome of our life's conduct and decisions. How can you know if you will make it to heaven or not? The Bible tells us the deciding factor: "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). 

First, this verse reveals a PROBLEM. It says that you are in danger of perishing in the lake of fire. When we do what we know is wrong, we violate God's law. Breaking God's law means we have to be punished, just like when we break our country's laws. The punishment for breaking God's law is to perish in the lake of fire. We sin against God because we have sinful hearts that we cannot change. You can test if you have a sinful heart by this test: Have you ever put God as less than first place in your life? Have you ever coveted something that did not belong to you? Have you ever stolen something, however small the value? If you answered Yes to any of these questions, then you are a sinner who needs God's love and mercy.

Secondly, the verse reveals the SOLUTION. Here we find that God is love. In His love for you, He sent His Son Jesus Christ to save you from the lake of fire. Jesus died on the cross for your sins, willingly taking your blame onto Himself. He died, was buried, then on the third day He rose from the dead. He thus demonstrated that He has power to raise you from the dead too. He is now enthroned in heaven at the right hand of God. There He has the power to change your sinful heart and deliver you to heaven.

Thirdly, the verse shows us the RESPONSE. "Whoever believes in Him should not perish." Because we have sinful hearts, there is nothing we can do to save ourselves. God's remedy is that we believe in Jesus, trusting Him to save us. Then God forgives our sins, changes our hearts, and gives us the Holy Spirit to teach us the way to live that is well pleasing to God. 

Pray right now for the Lord Jesus Christ to forgive you your sins, and to teach you to live right. Stop doing what you know is wrong. And start reading the Bible to learn more about Jesus  who saves you.