Ever ask yourself why Jesus had to come to Earth?

I suppose there are many answers to that question. No doubt the most popular is He came to save us, or as the apostle Paul puts it in Galatians 1:4, Jesus “gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age.”

But why? Why didn’t God just wipe us out and start over as He did in the days of Noah and the flood?

Why did God send Jesus to give us another chance to redeem ourselves?

Because God loves us and feels we are worth saving … enough for Him to sacrifice His Son Jesus for us.

Witness God’s magnificent love for mankind in John 3:16-17:

  “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. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”

And yet many resist the spiritual yearning in their soul for God to come into their lives and break the chains of the world that bind them.

Things That Get in the Way of Our Relationship With God

Many have yet to see, “The light.”

We live busy lives. We often don’t pay attention to God tugging on our hearts or hear Him whisper, “I want to fellowship with you.”

We don’t stop long enough to listen.

But … what if Jesus were a police officer and He just pulled you over?
An exchange might go something like this:

Jesus: Do you know why I stopped you?

You: No, not really. I wasn’t speeding, I don’t have an open container, I wasn’t smoking a joint, and I only left 15 minutes early from work today. So, what’s the beef?

Jesus: You’re on the road to death and I wanted to stop you before it was too late.

You: What? Looks like Hawthorne Boulevard to me.

Jesus: I also have a warrant for your arrest.

You: Arrest!?! For what?

Jesus: For sinning. God the Father wants you in protective custody.

You: You’re going to throw me in jail for sinning?

Jesus: You already are in jail for sinning. I’m here to set you free.
Please step out of the car.

You: What for?

Jesus: I need to read you your rights before you say another word.

You: This is a roust! You gonna handcuff me, too?

Jesus: You already are handcuffed by the world, you just don’t know it.

You step out of the car and turn to face Him. You look into His piercing eyes and realize there is no deceit in this man.

Jesus: You have the right to remain silent and continue to ignore God’s calling.        Anything you say can and will be used against — or for you — in the Court of God on Judgment Day.

You have the right to an attorney. You cannot afford this attorney, but should you choose Him, He will represent you without charge because the price has already been paid.

Do you understand the rights I have just read to you?”

You: What do you mean the price has already been paid?

Jesus stretches out his hands, and you see the scars where He was nailed to the cross. …

Jesus: God the Father wants you in protective custody, to save you from the wiles of the devil, and a life of disappointments.

But the choice is yours. I will not protect you against your will.

In the Protective Custody of the Father

It really is that simple: We are arrested by Jesus to save us from ourselves, so He could get us off that road to death.

Jesus is in plain view and not hiding behind a tree to ambush us with a “sin” radar gun.

Contrary to how you might feel sometimes, Jesus isn’t holding a radar gun trying to catch you in a sin.

Those who can say they’ve been arrested by Jesus and fall into His divine protection, have been unshackled and freed from the enslavement of sin. We will still sin.

To borrow an old phrase, Christians are not perfect, just forgiven.

More than protection, God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit combine to give believers their own Heavenly Bill of Rights.

These “Rights” are all in the Bible. If you don’t have one, you can find them in this online Bible.

The Believer’s Bill of Rights

You have the right to:

• Be Set Free (Gal. 5:1, 2 Cor. 1:10, 2 Sam. 22:47-49)
• Salvation (Luke 19:10, Eph. 2:8-9, Rom. 10:9)
• Eternal Life (John 3:16)
• Redemption (Eph. 1:7)
• Have Your Sins Forgiven (1 John 1:9, Acts 3:19)
• Mercy and the Riches of God’s Grace (Eph. 1:7, Eph. 2:4, Heb. 4:16)
• Peace (John 14:27, Phil. 4:6-7)

You have the right to:

• Live a Righteous Life (Isaiah 33:15-17, Gal. 5:16-26, Eph. 4:31-32)
• Live an Abundant Life (John 10:10, Jer. 29:11)
• Live a Holy Life (John 11:25)
• Make Your Joy Complete (John 15:11)
• Provide for All Your Needs (Phil. 4:19)
• Restore Fellowship With the Father (1 John 1:3-4, John 14:6)
• Boldly Come Before God’s Throne of Grace (Heb. 4:16)
• Approach God in Freedom and Confidence (Eph. 3:10-13)

You have the right to:

• Be Anxious for Nothing (Phil. 4:6)
• Restore Direction to the Lost (Proverbs 3:5-6, Jer. 29:11, John 6:35)
• Be Filled With Confidence (2 Tim. 1:7)
• Happiness (Psalms 37:4, Ecc. 3:12, Phil. 4:4)
• Acceptance (John 6:37, Jer. 33:8)
• Do Good Works (Eph. 2:10)
• Be a Champion for the Common Good (2 Tim 1:6)

You have the right to:

• Worship God in Spirit and Truth (John 4:23-24)
• Be Healed (Isaiah 53:5)
• Be Filled With the Spirit of Love (2 Tim 1:7, John 13:34-35, Lev. 19:18, Heb. 10:24, 1 Cor. 13:4-7)
• To Love and Be Loved (Micah 6:8, John 3:16, Jer. 31:3, 1 John 4:17-19, Eph. 2:4-5)
• Live a Life Filled With Purpose (Matthew 6:33)
• Walk Out of the Darkness and Into the Light (John 8:12, Eph. 5:8)
• Be Called Sons of God (Gal. 3:26)
• Be a new Creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17)

Imagine that — being arrested so you can be set free.

For these reasons, wouldn’t you want to be pulled over by Jesus … and given your freedom?

Wouldn’t you want to be in His benevolent protective custody?

If so, all you have to do is ask Jesus to come into your life.

Rest assured, no matter how busy you are, He will find you on that road to death and get you off it.