The Word

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. The Word was with God in the beginning. All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. –John 1:1–4

Jesus is not an afterthought. He wasn’t God’s emergency plan. Jesus is, He was, and will always be. He is fully God and He was present at the beginning of time. By Him and for Him all things were created. Anyone who tries to find fulfillment outside of Jesus experiences chaos, because He is life and the light of humanity. 

Every time we try to exist outside Christ and do things on our own, there is only pain and sorrow. I know that too well. I remember my life without Jesus, and it was pure chaos. I grew up in a Christian home, so I knew about heaven and hell—and I really did not want to go to hell. So, daily, I tried so desperately to live right. I tried to be obedient but I always fell short. 

My parents were both pastors, so you can imagine the kind of home I grew up in. God’s Word and knowledge of the life of Christ was not lacking in any way. But the devil deceived me, convincing me that the lifestyle and God of my parents was bondage, and that I could survive on my own. So I tried. 

I did not want the life of my parents. I wanted to be a good person and live on my terms, not the terms of God. I declared that I was going to be in heaven as long as I lived “well” and “good,” and thought that if I sinned, as long as I confessed my sin just before the trumpets blew and Jesus came to take us home, everything would work out. 

Writing this now, I shake my head at my thoughts. No one knows when Jesus will return, not even the angels in heaven nor the Son, only God. But when we choose to believe in Jesus, giving our lives to Him and choosing to walk according to His Word, we are granted a life with Him in eternity (Matthew 24:36).

Believing I could live without Jesus was and is a big lie. Jesus is the only way to God. He is the only way to eternal life. God sent His Son to die for us so that we can spend eternity in heaven with Him. Joyfully, dear friend, there is no other name under heaven through which we might be saved except the name of Jesus. There is no other road or route to eternity and to God except through Jesus. He desires a continuous, healthy, and growing relationship with you, if you have already given your life to Him. He wants to walk through life with you, to be the foundation and truth on which our lives are based.

When Jesus came into the world, as John the Baptist described in today’s verses, the world did not recognize Him. They did not want Him, which is very sad because when you come in contact with the person of Jesus through the Bible, your old life pales greatly in comparison to the new life you will have with Him. 

Jesus is not one of the ways to eternal life and a relationship with God; He is the only way. 

With God, you and I are valuable and unique; apart from Him we are nothing.

Darkness can never extinguish the light of Christ. In His light we see ourselves for what and who we really are; sinners in need of a Savior. When we follow Jesus, the true Light, we can avoid walking in darkness and living in sin. Jesus removes the darkness of sin and He lights the path ahead of us

Have you allowed the light of Jesus to shine in your life? Are you obedient to walk where His light shines? 

The truth about Jesus is that He is the Son of God and the only source of eternal life. 

Shalom,