We all have some sort of void in our lives that we try to fill.
A friend of mine recently pointed out that there didn't seem to be much difference between filling that space with a hobby, work, another religion, or any other passion and filling that space with Jesus. To a certain extent I think he's right. However, there's one detail in the Christian faith that sets it apart from the rest.
We all have passions and activities that we love to do, but the thing about any of those is that they always come to an end. There's always a point when you can no longer dance, no longer shoot hoops, no longer hit home runs, no longer surf, no longer run, no longer work, etc. Maybe you'll get injured. Or just grow too old. Or maybe you'll find yourself in a situation where you don't have the opportunity to do the thing you love. Find something else right? But what if that falls through too? What if everyone you love is no longer around? What if everything you've lived for up to this point falls apart and slips from your grasp? What then?
Some might question the necessity of Christianity and seek out other religions. But there's a major difference between following Jesus and any other religion. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me that every religion is based on your own effort. Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc. They all depend on YOU. If you give up, that's it. There are no guarantees.
Christianity--TRUE Christianity, on the other hand, is quite different.
"We love because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19).
It's not about what we do. It's about what He did for us.
It's not about who we are. It's about who He is.
He is everlasting Life. Yes, not life, but Life. With a capital L.
He is the Redeemer. He redeems our mistakes and the messes we make.
He is the Strength-Giver. He gives us strength to go on when we have none.
He is the Healer. He heals our bodies, our hearts, and our minds.
He is Peace when everything is shaking.
He is Love. The kind of Love that casts out fear and has power to heal. The kind of love that is unconditional. Most people (myself included) struggle to comprehend this kind of love because it's not something we see very often in our world today. But it's real, and once you've experienced it, there's no going back.
Following Jesus isn't easy, but it's worth it.
His promises endure forever.
He's the Rock that will never crumble.
Everything else will fade away, but He won't.
Can I prove that? No.
But I can tell you about the Love and Life I have found, what I've seen and heard, and this is why I follow Jesus and live to make Him known.
He gives me a glimpse of His love for those around me, and I can't help but want every single person to know the extent to which they are loved.
Now show me a hobby or career or person or religion besides this that gives me a deep personal connection with my Creator.
Show me something that will fill my heart with inexpressible joy despite the heartaches of life.
Show me something that will give me hope when everything falls apart.
Show me a person that will stay by my side through everything no matter what, will carry me through the darkest valleys, and dance with me on the mountains.
Then "maybe" I would consider filling my life with something else.
But I can assure you, nothing you say will ever convince me that there is something better because there's no one like Jesus, and that's the Truth.
"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." ~ Ephesians 3:14-21
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