Talk Tuesday-Do You Have Life?

When I was a young university student, I experienced three consecutive deaths in my family in my 3^rd year. I remember thinking, 'What is the purpose of life?' I seemed to have everything I needed-family, friends, money, opportunity, an eduction-yet there was an inexplicable void that remained. Although I was raised in a Christian family and attended church, I did not have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. I kept looking to the world to fill me, and it didn't...it couldn't. Then when death came knocking on our door, I felt that void grow deeper. I stood back in the distance as I witnessed my mother, father, brother and sister each come into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The change was immediate, evident and profound. It seemed as though everything they did centred around Jesus. They had this incredible passion, zeal, joy and purpose that was otherworldly. I wanted what they had. I wanted life.

The Bible tells us that, “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life,” 1 John 5:12. What does it mean to 'have life'? Romans 6:23 teaches us that, “...the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Jesus' death on the cross means that our sins are washed away by His blood, atonement is made on our behalf, we are justified before God the Father, our relationship with Him is restored and we have been redeemed. In other words, we have been set free to live a life of purpose to bring honour and glory to God, and to love our neighbours as we love ourselves. Jesus' death on the cross is the ultimate act of love which demands that we reject sin, and live surrendered, holy lives for the One who gave us this gift of life. Today, we implore you to, “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near,” Isaiah 55:6. Turn away from the world, “...the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life,” 1 John 2:16, give up your worldly life for a life in Christ, then you will truly live. Accept by faith Jesus' finished work on the cross, and invite Him to be Lord of your entire life. In June 1996, I did just that and the void was filled. I finally had life.

“34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them,'Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?'” Mark 8:34-36