Matthew 4:17, “From that time Jesus began to [a]preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” And skipping to verse 23, ”And Jesus was going about in all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the [a]gospel of the kingdom…”

How many of you as kids used to get together with the neighborhood kids and play sandlot football or baseball? Maybe you did it in PE class. I did that growing up, and usually, the two best players would be the captains, and they would alternate choosing a player for their team until all were chosen. I liked to win so I wanted to be on the side with the best players. Whose side I was on mattered to me.

At other times in our lives, we have had to choose which side we would be on: vote Democrat or Republican, work for someone else or go in business for yourself, serve in the military or not, join this organization or another.

The same is true in spiritual matters. We all start out on our own side – doing what we want, obeying when we want, being nice when we want, or breaking rules when we want…….whatever it pleases us to do.

But one day you become aware of God and are confronted with a new choice you must make: “Do I stay on my side or join God’s side?”

So, what does it mean to choose God’s side? What does He want me to do to be on His side?
First of all, know that He wants you to choose His side. Why? Because you will be accountable to Him someday, and He wants things to turn out well for you, not bad. Jesus taught that God is not mocked, whatsoever a man soweth that also shall he reap, and He said what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul?

OK you say – you’ve got my attention. But I believe in God – that He is a God of love. Isn’t that enough to be on His side?

The problem is that we are all sinners. The Bible says, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” and “There is none righteous – no, not one.” You know you have done wrong – sinned – we all have. The Bible also says. The wages of sin is death” and “It is appointed unto men to die, and after that the judgment.” After we die, God will bring judgment on us for the sins we have committed. However, if, while you were alive, you chose to join God’s side, instead of the everlasting punishment the Bible speaks of, you will receive mercy and forgiveness and be welcomed into God’s presence in heaven.

OK, you say, now you really have my attention. So, how do I get to God’s side?
The scriptures I read at the start give the answer. Let’s look at them again.
First, Jesus began to [a]preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Do you know what repent means? It means you understand you have sinned and are guilty before God. It means that in remorse you admit that is not the way to live and that you choose not to sin but to live the way you believe God wants you to live from now on. It’s a sincere change of attitude, mind, and heart.

In the second scripture, “Jesus was going about in all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the [a]gospel of the kingdom.”

The gospel is the wonderful thing that God did for mankind and explains how we can get to God’s side. It is summed up in the famous Bible verse John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.” You see, God loves us so much that He doesn’t want anyone to perish and be punished for our sins. So, He came to earth as Jesus Christ and suffered and died on the cross to pay for our sins Himself. As Jesus prophesied, on the 3rd day He rose from the grave, commissioned his disciples to share the gospel with the world, then ascended back to heaven.

God offers us mercy and forgiveness as a gift – we can’t earn or work for it. As John 3:16 says, the way we receive the gift is by believing or trusting in what Christ did for us on the cross in an attitude of repentance.

That’s how you get to God’s side. When you get there, your heart is filled with gratitude for what God in Christ has done for you, and you will want to live the rest of your life saying and doing those things that please God. You will have the incredible peace with God that passes all understanding. You will know that you are right with God, and will start experiencing life more abundantly – as Jesus said.

What about you? You can settle it now – trust in what Christ did for you and confirm it to God in a prayer like this, “Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. Amen”