Introduction: The Most Important “Yes” of Your Life
There are moments in life that reshape us permanently—marriage, the birth of a child, a career shift, a new chapter. But nothing compares to the moment a person finally acknowledges Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. In Episode 125: “Acknowledging Jesus,” I talked about how recognizing who Jesus is, and accepting the gift He freely offers, is the single most important decision we will ever make. Not one decision—not even the greatest moments of joy or the sharpest moments of pain—can carry the eternal weight this one does.
When you choose Jesus, you are not simply choosing a worldview. You are choosing a new identity, a new purpose, a new destiny, and yes—an eternal home. And while any day is a good day to surrender your life to Christ, this time of year seems to hold a special power. Hearts are softer, reflection runs deeper, and hope feels more accessible. There is something about the closing of a year or the celebration of Christ’s birth that awakens our awareness of what truly matters.
Today, I want to take you through why accepting Jesus is the greatest “yes” you will ever speak in this life—and how this season may be the perfect time to do so.
The Eternal Weight of Acknowledging Jesus
Accepting Christ is not intellectual agreement; it is a spiritual rebirth. It is not merely saying His name with your lips; it is surrendering your heart, acknowledging His Lordship, and stepping into a restored relationship with God.
When I finally came to understand this, something changed in me. I realized that eternity wasn’t just a vague concept—it was real, personal, and unavoidable. And the direction of my eternity hinged entirely upon what I decided about Jesus.
Eternity Isn’t Optional—But Its Destination Is
Every single person will spend eternity somewhere. That truth became unshakably clear the more I studied Scripture and dove deeper into my own walk with Christ. Eternity is not an abstract idea or a symbolic metaphor; it is the continuation of our existence in the presence of God or separated from Him.
To acknowledge Jesus is to accept the only bridge that spans the gap between humanity and a holy God. In acknowledging Him—believing He is Lord, believing He is the Son of God, believing His death and resurrection purchased our redemption—we accept life rather than death.
This Isn’t Just Fire Insurance—It’s a New Identity
What surprised me most about accepting Christ wasn’t the eternal implications—though those are enormous—it was how drastically my life here and now changed. My identity shifted. My desires shifted. My understanding of purpose deepened.
When you say yes to Jesus, you experience transformation:
- Your guilt meets grace.
- Your past meets forgiveness.
- Your confusion meets truth.
- Your spiritual death meets life.
Eternal life begins the moment you acknowledge Him—not the moment you die. It is life that starts now and extends into forever.
A New King, A New Kingdom, A New Way of Living
When I accepted Jesus as my Savior, something profound happened: I realized I had been my own king for far too long. My decisions, my ambitions, my desires—everything revolved around me. But the kingdom of self is small, fragile, and ultimately destructive.
Accepting Christ is acknowledging a new King. A perfect King. A King whose reign brings freedom, peace, identity, and purpose.
I discovered that the Christian walk is not the story of God rescuing “bad people”—it’s the story of God resurrecting dead people. We aren’t just improved or upgraded; we are reborn. And when you understand that, you begin to grasp just how monumental this decision is.
Why This Time of Year Is a Powerful Moment to Acknowledge Jesus
I’ve always felt that certain seasons stir the human heart in unique ways. The time around the new year, or around Christmas, tends to soften the soil of our souls. People reflect, repent, resolve, and return to things that matter.
Here’s why this season is especially powerful:
1. Reflection Heightens Awareness
As the year closes or as the Christmas season approaches, we naturally take inventory:
- What did I accomplish?
- What did I lose?
- What do I regret?
- What do I hope for?
In these reflective moments, we see our need more clearly—our need for grace, for forgiveness, for a Savior.
2. Hope Feels Tangible
When the world slows down and we gather with family, read the birth story of Jesus, or simply pause from our routines, hope seems closer. The celebration of Christ’s arrival reminds us: God came close. God came near. God took on flesh to rescue us.
What better time to respond than when we are reminded of the very moment He entered human history?
3. A New Year Invites a New Life
A new beginning is symbolic—but also powerful. What better way to begin a new year than with a new heart?
4. People Are More Open, More Honest, More Broken
This season also heightens loneliness, loss, reflection, and longing. The very things that hurt become the very things that open us up to God.
No one accepts Jesus from a place of pride. We accept Him from places of humility, hunger, and need—places this season often exposes.
My Own Journey Toward Acknowledging Jesus
When I look back at my own moment of surrender, it wasn’t an explosion or a dramatic scene. It was quiet, almost whisper-like. The Lord had been working in me, softening me, calling me. And one day—after wrestling, reasoning, resisting—I finally said yes.
That moment changed me.
I didn’t become perfect. I didn’t suddenly understand everything. But I became alive. I became anchored. I became found. And I knew from that moment forward—no matter what storms came, no matter what seasons shifted—my eternity was secure, and my life had purpose.
Are You Going Through the Motions… or Choosing the Messiah?
One of the greatest challenges in the Christian walk is that many people grow up around church but never grow up in Christ. They know about Him. They sing about Him. They attend services for Him. But they have never fully acknowledged Him as Lord.
Maybe you’ve been around faith your whole life, but you’ve never made that personal decision. Maybe you’re a good person, generous, kind, responsible—but you’ve never surrendered your life to Jesus.
He stands at the door. He knocks. And this season might be the moment He is calling you louder than ever.
What Happens When You Finally Say Yes?
1. Your Sins Are Forgiven
Every one of them. Past, present, future. The slate wiped clean.
2. You Receive the Holy Spirit
God’s presence takes residence within you, guiding you, comforting you, convicting you, transforming you.
3. You Become a Child of God
Not metaphorically—literally adopted into His family.
4. Your Eternity Is Secured
Heaven becomes not a wish, but a promise.
5. Your Purpose Becomes Clearer
You were made to know God and make Him known.
How to Acknowledge Jesus Today
Acknowledging Christ is not complicated. It is not about formulas or rituals. It is about belief, confession, and surrender.
Here is how someone can make that decision, even right now:
1. Admit Your Need
Acknowledge that you cannot save yourself. Recognize your sin, your brokenness, your need for a Savior.
2. Believe in Who Jesus Is
Believe He is the Son of God. Believe He died for your sins. Believe He rose from the grave.
3. Confess Him as Lord and Savior
Tell Him with your mouth what your heart believes.
4. Surrender
Give Him your life—your decisions, your relationships, your future, your past.
5. Walk Forward in Faith
Faith is a journey. A relationship. A transformation.
A Prayer for Anyone Deciding Today
This is not magic. These words alone do not save you—Jesus saves you. But if your heart is ready, you can pray something like this:
“Lord Jesus, I acknowledge You as the Son of God. I believe You died for my sins and rose again. I confess that I need You as my Savior. I surrender my life to You today. Forgive me, renew me, and lead me. My life belongs to You from this day forward. Amen.”
Conclusion: Say Yes—Your Life Depends on It
At the end of the day, this decision is not about religion, tradition, or cultural pressure. It is about life. Eternal life. It is about the God who created you, who loves you, and who wants you to spend eternity with Him.
And while any time is a good time to say yes, this time of year has a way of reminding us what truly matters—hope, renewal, forgiveness, purpose, and salvation.
If you’ve been wrestling, lingering, or holding back, let me say this gently but firmly: Choose Jesus. Choose life. Choose eternity.
Because to acknowledge Christ is to step into the greatest story ever written—and to secure your place in the chapters that never end.
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