This is an edited transcript of an open-air message preached by George Clayson. You can download the visuals that go with this message here. We hope this message serves as a helpful guide for your own open-air preaching.
Introduction
Good afternoon.
We’re just a few Christians, and we come into Sheffield normally every week on a Monday. The reason we’re here is not to annoy you or give you a hard time as you’re trying to get your lunch or do your shopping. We’re here to share the Christian message—the good news about Jesus Christ.
We want to tell you why you need Him and the difference He can make in your life, both now and forever.
Now, I know there are lots of people who say, “There is no God—no God for me.” And there are others who do believe in God. Depending on whether you believe in God or not will determine how you answer life’s big questions—questions like:
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Where did the universe come from?
- What is the purpose of life?
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What happens when we die?
These are important questions, aren’t they? I want to go through them with you this afternoon and see how you might answer them.
1. Where Did the Universe Come From?
The first question is this: Where did the universe come from? How did we get here? Why is there something rather than nothing?
Look at this picture of our planet on the board – see the beauty of the universe. Scientists tell us our world is finely tuned—just right for life to exist. How did that happen?
If you don’t believe in God—if you say there is no God—then you have to say that nothing made everything. But what would you think if I said, “Nothing made these buildings”? You’d think I was crazy! And yet it’s far more unreasonable to believe that the universe came from nothing.
Scientists tell us our planet sits in what they call the Goldilocks Zone—the perfect distance from the sun for life to exist. It’s “just right.” And yet if you don’t believe in God, you have to say that nothing made it all.
So what’s the alternative?
Well, I used to say there is no God. I used to say, “I’m not bothered.” But twelve years ago, I turned from my sin and turned to Jesus. I was forgiven for the wrong I’d done because Jesus died in my place on the cross—and three days later, He rose from the dead. When I believed in Him, I came to know God for myself.
Now I know that God made everything.
And how you answer that first question—Where did the universe come from?—will determine how you answer the next.
2. What Is the Purpose of Life?
I don’t know if you’ve thought about this recently, but when you look at a picture of a baby, what comes to mind? It’s evidence of a Creator, isn’t it? A beautiful baby—new life in the world.
But it also raises another question: What’s the purpose of life?
Maybe you have children. What will you tell them when they ask, “What’s life all about?” If there is no God, you’d have to say, “Life is meaningless. There is no reason for life.” Because if no one made our universe, if no one made you, then life has no real purpose.
Yet deep down we know that’s not true. That’s why people study philosophy and ask questions about meaning. That’s why we get up in the morning and live as though life matters—because we know it does.
For those of us who believe in God, we know why life has meaning. The Bible says the purpose of life is to know God for yourself. That’s why you are alive—to know the One who made all of this, to be loved by Him, and to love Him in return.
And under that comes everything else.
You can know God if you turn to Jesus Christ. The Bible says:
“Christ Jesus suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.”
That’s the meaning of life—to know God for yourself.
There are many religions in the world, but none can bring you to God—only Jesus Christ. He suffered on the cross for our sin to do just that.
Maybe you’re thinking, If there is a God, where is He? Why does He feel so far away?
The Bible’s answer is that our sin has separated us from Him. But Jesus died on the cross, suffering for our sins, so we could be forgiven and brought back to God.
If today you believe in Jesus as your Saviour—if you turn from going your own way and turn to Him—you can know God for yourself. Then your life will have meaning.
3. What Happens When We Die?
Here’s my final question—and maybe you can guess it from the picture I often use: What happens when we die?
When life ends—when we come to the end of the road and realise our time is up—what happens next?
If you say there is no God, then you have to say there is no life after death. Many people say that, and it sounds easy to say, doesn’t it? “There’s nothing after you die.” But think that through.
If there’s no life after death, that’s a terrible thought. It means that when you breathe your last breath, you’re gone forever. You cease to exist. Everything you’ve done and all your memories are gone.
Think of a loved one who has died. Do you say there’s no life after death? Then you’re saying they simply ceased to exist—that they are nowhere. Friends, that’s not good news.
But because there is a God, there is life after death. The Bible says:
“It is appointed for men to die once, and after this, the judgment.”
What does that mean? It means everything you’ve said, thought, and done will be brought before God, and you’ll be judged for it. The Bible says there is a heaven and there is a hell.
What would happen if you died today with your sins still unforgiven—because you never believed in Jesus? The Bible says, “These will go away into everlasting punishment.”
But there’s also a way to heaven, even though we’ve done wrong. The Bible says:
“Christ Jesus suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.”
There is life after death—two destinations: heaven or hell. The way to heaven and to avoid hell is by believing in Jesus. And the best time to do that is today.
God is calling you to turn from sin, to believe in His Son, and to know Him for yourself. He promises:
“You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”
If you come to God today by believing in His Son Jesus, you’ll know He made you, He’ll give your life meaning, and He’ll give you eternal life after you die—life in heaven.
And it’s all through Jesus.
He suffered once for sins when He died on the cross. He paid for the wrong we’ve done—the just (the good Jesus) for the unjust (you and me)—that He might bring us to God.
Jesus said:
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
We’re here today to tell you: go to Jesus, believe in Him, and you will know God for yourself.
Conclusion
I’m going to finish there, but I urge you to turn to Jesus today.
If you want to know more about Him, we’d love to give you a copy of the Bible. A great place to start is the Gospel of John, where you’ll read that Jesus came into the world to bring us to God. You’ll learn that He lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again three days later.
The Bible says that if you believe in Him, you’ll have eternal life.
Friends, we urge you to turn to Jesus. It’s not too late.
If you believe in Him today, your life will be changed forever.
Please come and take a Gospel of John if you would like one.