“What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and to forfeit his soul/person?”
To have good success in this life is a desirable goal. But what about the life hereafter? Our best ‘success’ in this life without Love/God, is the ultimate ‘vanity of vanities’.
For we all know, intuitively, that there is another life beyond this. We even pray for the dead. That would be madness, if we thought that life ended at death.
No one wants to die and that is understandable. Death is an enemy. Man was created, by God, to live forever.
“He has put eternity in the hearts of men.”
The fear of death has kept all of mankind in bondage. It is this fear that drives hedonism:
Let us eat and drink and tomorrow we die.
But need we fear death? Is that not the reason God sent the Messiah, the Savior, to deliver us from the bondage of death? As it is written:
Now since the children have flesh and blood, He (Jesus Christ) too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. Gospel
Jesus, the Savior, has come in the flesh and died the death for all mankind. Now we can have peace with the Father; and a living hope of eternal life.
For, “this is eternal life, that they may know You, the Only True God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”
Jesus, the One who came to reveal Truth to us, said that. To assure us of this truth, God gave us a ‘living hope’ (Gospel), by raising the same Jesus from the dead. That is the Gospel, or good news, in Greek.
“For God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself.”
It is the ultimate succor for our weary souls. It is yet another principle that we do not fully grasp but simply believe. And we ‘see’ the glory thereafter! Something shifts in the soul!!
“If you would believe, you will see the glory of God.” Jesus Christ
To believe in the Christ, the Savior, with childlike faith, is to receive Truth again into the heart and be ‘born again’ spiritually. You become a citizen of the Kingdom of God. It is a work of grace, such that no one can boast.
“For of his own will has He begotten us by the word of Truth… ”
For no man has kept the law perfectly, to assure him of freedom from the guilt that is our lot in the soul. Nor can any man indeed keep the law perfectly.
All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
And no man is rich enough, or good enough, to pay the ransom for his soul!
“If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, but have not love (God), I gain nothing.” Gospel
God, ever so merciful, has made a way out for all, the rich and the poor alike. It is the “way of Truth”. No man has any excuse any longer. Through Adam, we all missed it; for he bought a lie. Through Jesus, we all can get it right again; we can ‘buy the truth’ for nought, by simply choosing it!
To reject the Savior, the Truth, yet again, is to face squarely the wrath of God which we all deserve otherwise.
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.
Jesus Christ, the word of truth, according to the Koran, said that. That should be sobering in every way. We know that we have not been perfect, and we know that the fear of death remains in the heart.
But we can know the ‘peace of God, that is beyond understanding’, and have ‘the full assurance of hope’, when we simply believe and receive – choose – His Truth in our hearts.
For God ‘desires truth in the inward parts’.
Jesus Christ, the Truth, is the one chance for all mankind.
And yes, we retain our power of choice. We can either receive Him as God’s great gift of grace or reject Him.
But we dare not treat Him as though He were just another mere mortal; a good man, a wise teacher, a great prophet etc. He did not leave us with that option:
You are from below, but I am from above. You are of this world but I am not of this world.
What is unclear about that? This is the One of whom there was a prophecy, hundreds of years earlier:
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah… out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.”
Israel means, ‘one who has prevailed with God’. Jesus has prevailed with God, on our behalf.
He is God’s mercy and grace revealed to all mankind. He is Truth; beyond any religion.
“For the law was given through Moses, but grace and Truth come through Jesus Christ.” Gospel
If you believe and are willing to receive God’s great mercy and grace, then you can say this simple ‘thank you’ prayer:
Father, I thank you for your immense love in sending the Savior, Jesus Christ, the Truth, to pay the price of death that we all deserved. Thank you for the hope we now have because you raised Him from death and sat Him at your right hand.
I put my trust in the name/authority of your Son, Jesus Christ. I accept and proclaim Him as the Savior and Lord of my life. Thank you, Father, that I am born again. I too, am your son/daughter forever.
I thank you also for your great gift and precious promise, the mighty Holy Spirit; the Spirit of Truth. I receive Him in my heart, to dwell in me and with me, and to lead me into all truth.
Now I can and I choose to love my fellowman with your love and by the power of your Spirit.
In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Welcome to the Kingdom of God.
Welcome to pre-Normal, the pre-Fall Eden; the ‘garden of God’.
Now, you can go ahead and serve your generation in ‘deeds and in truth’, according to the will of God, and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. The God and Father of all who believe and receive the Truth in the heart.
May the great grace of God sustain your journey.
Hallelujah forevermore