It’s frightening sometimes, definitely sad, and it can leave you feeling down or hopeless. The events of just the last few months are enough to keep us at nights wondering. A missing Malaysian plane with 239 souls on board, a sinking South Korean ferry carrying an entire high school of students on a field trip, the search and rescue efforts for the sudden mudslides in California, earthquakes all over the world, ravaging tornadoes that leave many people dead within seconds, and that does not include the countless shooting scenes in malls and schools that seem to take place almost daily.
Phew…, that’s not a fun, feel-good, positive topic to write about, but I just could not ignore it this time. It shouldn’t be ignored. It is important to people’s lives. But it can shake you. Even the most fearless will stop and ask why. Why the suffering, why the bad, why the innocent?
First, don’t blame God. Blame evil. Give credit where it’s due. Get mad at evil, so mad that you want to counteract it with good. Only good things (God) can take away evil and win. Everything else is only temporary.
There is only one answer that can satisfy all that is wrong in the world and make it right. Only one word is more powerful than anything else – Jesus. Not Allah, not Buddha, not yourself, not your money or where you live, not your work, not your spouse, not even where you go to church or who you vote for. All of those things are temporary and will fail you at some point. When facing death, money won’t save you. Even our best accomplishments only take us so far in this world. It only takes one costly mistake to bring someone down in this high-tech 24-7 world.
No one else offers complete grace, forgiveness, and eternal assurance than Jesus. It is what He stands for, and that’s why it makes others mad. Jesus does not play favorites. It does not matter what country you are from, your background, your race, your education, what you’ve done or not done, Jesus is the answer for all. He is not exclusive, but inclusive. There is not one question you can ask where Jesus is not the answer…
Sick? – Jesus will help you through it
Depressed? – Jesus will be a true friend
Dying? – Jesus will be there to welcome you home if you put your trust in Him.
There is a reason Jesus says in the Bible that He is “The Way, The Truth, and The Life”. It is so we can be sure. No guessing required.
Injustice? – Jesus will judge the wrong
Suffering? – Jesus can give you a peace unlike anything else. Jesus said “Blessed are the poor, those who mourn, and the meek, for they will inherit the Kingdom of Heaven”. He said that for a reason.
Messed up life? – Jesus cares. There is nothing so bad that you cannot go to Jesus.
Worried about tomorrow? – Jesus knows the future. He is our intercessor, praying for us. You will never go wrong by following Jesus.
Lonely? – Jesus will be by your side. There is no better person to have with you.
No matter how much we try to control our lives, we cannot. Yet, I cannot imagine trying to go through this life without Jesus by my side. It truly would be scary. Knowing Jesus is the only real assurance in this life and for eternity. Nothing else compares. Nothing else matters as much.
If you read Jesus’ words from the New Testament, you will be amazed at what He says.
Here are a few:
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30
I will never turn away anyone who comes to me. John 6:37
Peace I leave with you, not as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27
There remains a rest for the people of God. Hebrews 4:9 (Paul)
And from the last verse of the Bible…
“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
Revelation 22:21
