By David Ettinger
The Key Issue
Thank you for “visiting” this article. My goal here is to appeal to you regarding the single most important issue of your existence, and I promise to keep it short.
The “issue” I refer to is eternal life, or what happens to you following this earthly – and mortal – existence.
Quick Background
Just so you know where I’m coming from, I was raised in a Jewish family in New York, and attended “Yeshiva” – Hebrew school – for 11 years. Following high school, I became disenchanted with religion and turned to atheism from ages 17 through 21.
When I moved to New Mexico, my future wife, a professing Christian, asked me to one night read some portion of the New Testament to gain an understanding of its claims. I did so, reading the first book of the NT, Matthew, straight through.
By the time I finished, I was no longer an atheist. I became intellectually convinced that God was exactly who He said He was, and that Jesus was exactly who He claimed to be – not only Israel’s and the world’s Messiah, but also God in the flesh.
Though I believed this in my head, it took me seven years to finally accept these truths in my heart and at last give my life to Christ. That was at age 28, and now – at age 62 – I am still a follower of Jesus Christ and know that when this life is over I will be meeting my Savior face-to-face in eternity. (You can read my full story here.)
The Somber Message
With this in mind, I would like to give you the Bible’s primary message, which is the most important message you will ever hear.
God tells us that every individual is born “separated” from Him because of the original sin in the Garden of Eden. Isaiah 53:6 says: “We ALL, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way …” Psalm 51:5 assures us that: “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” And Romans 3:23 confirms “… for ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (emphasis added).
You may be thinking, “Well, what of it?” The answer is clear. John 3:36 says: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life [in Heaven with God], but whoever rejects the Son will not see life [eternal residency in Hell], for God’s wrath remains on them.” 1 John 5:11-12 echoes this vital truth: “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has [eternal] life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have [eternal] life” (emphasis added).
The Good News
The above tells of the fate of men and women apart from God, and it is somber indeed. However, the Good News – or “Gospel” – is that God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to pay the price on the cross for the sins of the world.
John 3:16 triumphantly declares: “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.” Romans 6:23 declares: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (emphasis added). And Romans 5:8 tells us: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
How do we access this “Good News”? Romans 10:9 says: “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Acts 16:31 promises: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved …” And Acts 2:21 says, “And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
An Invitation
I kept this brief and hope it has struck even a faint chord in you. Messages regarding Hell and the afterlife are difficult to digest, but the Creator of the Universe is the One who sets the rules, not His creations.
If this has at all warranted any degree of interest, I invite you to do as I did way back in 1979, that is, to read the Book of Matthew – the first book of the New Testament – and at least get an idea of what it says. (You can read Matthew online here).
If you believe even marginally that what I have written could be true, would you agree that, logically, you should read it for yourself?
This is my challenge to you, and may God bless your efforts to discover the truth regarding this most important truth you will ever consider!
EttingerWriting.com 
vicklea
October 10, 2020
I had a similar experience. I did not call myself an atheist, but I was going my own way and doing my own thing. Then my new neighbor gave me a Bible and told me to read the book of John. One Friday night, all alone, I did and was convicted of my sin and prayed for forgiveness. That was 47 years ago and I have followed the Lord since then. I am sharing your post as a way to draw unbelievers to the light. Excellent testimony, David!
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dettinger47
October 10, 2020
Thanks for sharing that, Vickie. There really is a similarity in both our salvation stories with an individual encouraging us to read one of the Gospels! Not to sound like a teen, but, “cool!”
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vicklea
October 10, 2020
You just made me chuckle, because I have teen grandchildren and use the word “cool” with them frequently.
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dettinger47
October 10, 2020
Cool! Oops, I mean, “that’s nice.” 😂
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Robert
October 10, 2020
Such an important post brother. And a reminder to me to more intentionally proclaim the good news on my blog too, so thank you 🙂
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dettinger47
October 10, 2020
A reminder to me as well! Thank you, Robert.
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Bill Sweeney
October 11, 2020
Great post and testimony, David. I first read the Bible at the age of 21 and, like you, I read Matthew’s gospel. I didn’t become a follower of Christ until two years later, but the seeds were planted.
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dettinger47
October 11, 2020
Amen. Same here. Thanks, Bill.
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Sheila D.Currie Blake
October 12, 2020
Amen. That’s a task all of us as Christians should take on. We must be relentless in inviting others to Christ. Blessings to you.
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dettinger47
October 12, 2020
Thank you, Sheila.
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