I've really lived a messed-up life, and the problem is I don't have any excuse for it. I grew up in a fine Christian home with loving parents, but I threw it all overboard—several abortions, theft from my employers to keep my drug habit going, etc. Now I'm in jail. Is God too fed up with me to forgive me? — M.G.

Recently, I was reading the story of Noah (you can find it in chapters 6-9 of Genesis). You may recall that the world had grown very evil in Noah's time, and God decided to bring judgment on the human race through a massive flood. Only Noah and his family would be saved, because only he was righteous.

But I was especially struck by God's reaction to the people's sin: "The Lord was grieved ... and his heart was filled with pain" (Genesis 6:6). And that is the way God looks at your life—His heart is filled with grief and pain. Why? Because He loves you, and His heart is broken because you have wandered so far from Him. Sin always has consequences, and God hates what sin has done to you.

But God does not hate you! God loves you; He loves you so much that Jesus Christ was willing to die on the cross for you. If you had been the only person on earth who needed to be saved, Jesus still would have died for you. The Bible says, "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us" (1 John 3:16).

Don't be a slave to sin any longer, but repent of your sins and open your heart to Christ. He died for every sin you have ever committed, and He yearns to welcome you home. Put your life into His hands today.