When the whole world suffers anxiety, fear and distress, why isn’t the Gospel of Jesus Christ recognised as the balm for the afflicted? It is life. Why don’t we seem to recognise this?
Jesus is our future but also our present.
Jesus is the road to heaven but also offers our path to peace while we walk the earth: inner peace, peace with one another, peace over war between nations. If only the world could see.
Has Evangelism gone wrong?
If we have been called to draw the world to The Saviour Jesus, why is the world population not entirely saved?
Why does the world not see the reality of Jesus’ power to heal and the powerful effect that a commitment to Jesus has on our minds and hearts? … Perhaps it is a simple answer: Because so many who love Jesus and have committed their lives to him, do not realise this truth, and do not walk in it themselves, so cannot share it with their unbelieving sphere.
I am not saying this to blame us for the message getting lost. There is an enemy, there is an array of other cultures and religions pitted against the message of Jesus. But perhaps we who follow him haven’t necessarily contemplated the Word as well as we might. To dwell even on one passage, Romans 12:1-2, would bring us to the realisation that walking with Jesus necessarily leads us to a renewed, healthier perspective as we walk out our faith.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Jesus saves eternally, but also his teaching offers life-giving common sense, taking us out of ourselves.
Self-centred in our innocence
I just went through boxes of old letters recently. What innocence, what innocent self-centredness, as I — and fellow correspondents — were trying to discover who we are, how we relate to one another, how to overcome disappointment, defeat, and how we can try to be decent people.
Walking with Jesus enables us to hurdle all of that introspective searching. To truly digest his message means we can overcome that self absorption instantaneously, as we grasp his wisdom and live out his message.
Truth v a Religious life
Sadly, throughout the ages, human beings have captured Jesus’ reality without grasping his message of life and freedom through love. Instead, generations of Christians have lived a religion rather than grasping the abundant life that following Jesus offers.
And from the fronts of churches and in the home, we have told one another we must behave according to religio-social rules.
To us all I say, “Come out of religion and take Jesus at his word! Be free, be responsible for your freedom, and in so doing, ignore the religiosity and legalism that causes us to fear one another and fear making a mistake. Instead, seek to love, to do right toward one another and all, and discover the abundant life that Jesus has promised.” We need to look up, look out and not focus too much on the looking in.
One hope today
There is always hope! Today, our hope is that those who do not know Jesus will become so desperate in their affliction arising from the desperate circumstances of today: poverty, disease, natural disasters, decaying society, that people will look for hope beyond governments and society. Or even better, in their desperation, may they see the love we have for one another…. that the world will know us by our love and turn to Jesus themselves.
“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” (1 John 3:16)
Jesus is not just for today but for every tomorrow until eternity. Jesus is not only for heaven but for our earthly life as well. Grasp these truths that the truth will set you free: there is no fear but only love, when we walk in the truth of Jesus’ redeeming love and salvation. Trust, accept you are accepted, follow and know that you have overcome all if only you comprehend and walk in the fullness of your salvation.
Shalom, friends. Shalom. And the peace which passes all understanding guard your heart and mind… In Jesus, Amen.
Just as it is too small a thing for Jesus to die only for the Jews but for the Gentiles also (Isaiah 49:6), so it is too small a thing for Jesus to die for eternal life after death only. Our acceptance of Him allows us to be free in the acceptance He has given to us; and His power, love and truth reside within every one who believes (Acts 13:39).
