here once lived a kind and good King who loved a certain young Princess from a faraway land. Even a as young girl, this Princess was known for her great beauty. When the time came that she was of an age to be married, the King came to ask for her hand.
After He arrived, the King, in view of the entire royal court, knelt before the Princess. "I have loved you since before you were born. Will you be my bride?"
The Princess looked down at the King kneeling before her and whispered, if only to herself, "Do I even have a choice?"
"Yes, Princess," the King likewise whispered, "you always have a choice."
Then the Princess glared down at Him and declared for all in the room to hear, "Then I will NEVER marry you."
The King bowed and backed away, determined to wait for her.
After that day, the Princess went her own way. She did not listen to her Father, but spent his money lavishly and her time flirting with the men who came to call. She herself ruined her purity, and the day came when her Father forced her to leave the palace since she would not stop her immoral lifestyle. Then she turned to theft and prostitution to "earn" her living.
In her travels, the Princess found herself in the King's country and was soon brought before the King to be judged for her crimes.
In the courtroom, the King presented Himself to the Princess and bowed, as was befitting one of her station.
The Princess glared up at Him from her position on the floor, since she was too weak to stand from the diseases that ravaged her body. "You said you loved me," she spat, "but look at you--ready to send me to my death! Well, do not expect any groveling from me! Do your worst!"
The King looked at the Princess and saw who she was--and who she was meant to be. He saw her dirty, ragged clothing and her diseased skin. He also saw how hopeless the Princess was and how she regretted the things she had done, although she would never admit it.
Her voice flat, the Princess replied, "No."
"The penalty for these crimes is death. All here know that the penalty for breaking these laws must be paid, I cannot simply pardon anyone. Therefore," the King stepped down from His throne and knelt down before the Princess, "I will take your place, Princess."
This finally broke the Princess and she cried, "I cannot ask you to die for me!"
"You are not asking; I am offering. All you need to do is accept."
"I cannot if it means you will die. You have done nothing wrong--I have. I deserve it, but you don't."
The King smiled at her, "I will die to take your place whether you say you will accept or not."
Finally seeing hope, the Princess asked, "You would truly do that for me, even if I don't accept?"
"Yes."
"Then," she said with tears in her eyes, "I accept."
But God still loves us. He loved us
so much that He could not simply allow us to die in Hell—the punishment for our
crimes against Him. Instead God sent His Son Jesus, who is God, to be the
perfect human and die in our place. “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). “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in
that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8)
But He did not stay dead! Three days after Jesus’ death, He rose from the dead! “…that
Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and
that He was buried and that He rose again the third day according to the
Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3-4).
If we believe what Jesus has done for us, God will forgive us for our sins and bring us into Heaven when we die. “…Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved…” (Acts 16:31).
All you need to do is believe.
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