Why Do I need Jesus? My life is fine.
The world today is very much disconnected to the reasons for wanting and needing
Jesus Christ. The word of God is becoming more and more an ancient belief. Even within
this country, the original religious beliefs brought here by our country's founders
are nothing like it used to be. Prayer in schools, the mention of the Bible in a
public place is now considered to be offensive, and just a few short years ago, it
was a way of life. Although these things that are happening have been foretold in
the Bible, it's disheartening to see it actually come to be.
As we know, God gives
us free will. Although our free will may have gotten us to where we are now, our
abilities can't get us to where we need to be. Man's sin has, and continues to keep
us separated from God. We need some means to reconnect to Him. The problem is, nothing
we can do by our own means can accomplish this. However there is a ‘way’ to reconnect
to Him by His gift of grace;
"For grace you have been saved through faith, and that
not of yourselves; it is the gift of God not of works, lest anyone should boast."
Eph. 2:8-9
You may say, "My life is just fine. I'm a good person; I don't
steal, murder, rape or commit any crimes. I'm nice to people, I help them when I
can and I'm a good provider for my family." So why do I need anything else? The answer
to this question is simple. This 'good life' you have is limited. It's only 'good'
for the short time your here. Also, the trials in life you go through can overwhelm
you to the point where this 'good' can become very bad easily. Yes, some do 'seem'
have it better than others. Some people go along with seemingly no worries or problems
in their lives. The reality is, you just see the surface. They're human, and you
can bet, they have some of the same basic problems and worries we all have, if not
more. Also, you can bet, they ask the same question all of us have asked at one point
in our lives..... "Is this all there is"?
So what's the answer?..................
Jesus Christ, our Savior! He is the only means by which we can 'reconnect' to God;
"....
I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me".
John 14:6
Our gift from God, His grace of of forgiveness, our belief in Jesus
Christ as our Savior, being regenerated in our new life by this gift- being born
again (See John 3:3), living a life that is acceptable to God are the only ways
we can be granted an eternal life with Him and finally get that answer to "Is this
all there is"? Just saying "I believe in Jesus" as many of us do without the necessary
commitment in our hearts gives us a false sense of salvation. God calls us to salvation
by His grace. He knows what's truly in our hearts. It is what is in our hearts that
matters. Our outward appearance to man is not what God sees or cares about, but our
true intentions.
Also, we must realize, that the material things of this world,
the short life we have, the worries we go through every day, will someday pass away;
"..................for the former
things are passed away." Rev. 21:4
In order for man to 'reconnect' to God, our
sins had to be dealt with. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God"
Rom. 3:23. We are all sinners, from the very beginning of our lives. We inherited
sin from Adam and Eve. In Romans 5:12 it states; "Therefore, just as sin entered
the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all
men, because all sinned.". God is perfect. He can not allow sin to continue forever.
So if we are to have an eternal life with Him, sin must be defeated once and for
all.
In early biblical times, the people were required to make animal
sacrifices to God for the sins they committed. The animal had to be as perfect and
without any defects as much as possible. Why? Because it meant something to the people.
It was their livelihood. Giving up an animal that was that valuable taught them something.
It was the act of that sacrifice, the blood of the animal that symbolized the washing
away of the sin. But today, animal sacrifices are not necessary. God resolved this
with man by Jesus coming to earth and dying for our sins. He paid the price. He was
the sacrifice. His blood was shed to wash away our sins. But if you don't believe
in Him, if you don't believe in his crucifixion and resurrection, then His sacrifice
was for nothing. There's no reason for you to be saved, because you were born a sinner
and will eventually die a un-repented sinner, which the bible says results in going
to Hell.
"Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe
stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and
only Son" John 3:18
So the most important reason we need Jesus is for salvation.
To be saved by His sacrifice. It's a choice we all have available to make. God sincerely
wishes everyone to come to Him;
"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise as
some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should
perish but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9
It is also worth mentioning
that once we do come to faith in Jesus, it is important to continue in that life
and not 'drift back' to our old ways or ever refuse to follow His words to us;
"See
that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him
who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks
from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, "Yet
once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven." Heb. 12:25,26
Even though
we are all deserving of death because of all the sins we have committed, once we
receive Jesus and truly repent (turn away) those sins are forgotten. Simply because
of God's unconditional love for us. Again, this can only be accomplished by accepting
His gift, Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
Another reason we need Jesus
is for our stability and sense of purpose in this life. He can comfort us in our
daily trials. Knowing He is there is an awesome feeling. It gives us something to
hope for, knowing He will help us with whatever we need (not necessarily want) in
life's issues.
"Come to Me, and all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will
give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly
in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Mat. 11: 28-29
So I implore
you, for all that you may read this..... believe and pray so that you may come to
Him. Then, declare, publicly, Jesus is your Lord and Savior, that you accept His
sacrifice, that you repent and ask for forgiveness for your sins, for everything
you may have done or said. That you believe He has risen and now sits at the right
hand of the Father and will come again to judge the entire earth. For those that
are reading this and may not have done so, I offer this prayer for all;
"Father,
we pray that we all may come to you through Jesus Christ. May He come into
our
lives, to fester a stronger co-existence with you. Forgive us of our sins, and help
us
forgive those that seek to deter us from your grace. Deliver us from the evil ones
doings,
and help us sustain our new commitment with you. Lord, we ask these things
In
Jesus name... Amen."
“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Rev. 21:4