THE SADDEST THING

“For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”  (Romans 1:21)

What use is it to us to hear it said of a man that he has thrown off the yoke, that he does not believe there is a God to watch over his actions, that he reckons himself the sole master of his behavior, and that he does not intend to give an account of it to anyone but himself?  Does he think that in that way he will have straightway persuaded us to have complete confidence in him, to look to him for consolation, for advice, and for help, in the vicissitudes of life?  Do such men think that they have delighted us by telling us that they hold our souls to be nothing but a little wind and smoke -- and by saying it in conceited and complacent tones?  Is that a thing to say blithely?  Is it not rather a thing to say sadly -- as if it were the saddest thing in the world? 

-- Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) in “Pensee”

#5157

THE OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE

“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.”   (John 20:31)

It is true, there are people who do not believe that Jesus is the Son of God, our Savior, among them some of the world’s greatest scholars. But I am appalled when I talk to many of these people of learning about Christ, for I discover that almost always they are ignorant of the basic truths of the Gospel… You would be amazed to discover that inevitably these people are taking issue with something that they do not fully understand. They have erected ‘straw men’, and have proceeded to destroy their own creation.

I have yet to meet anyone who has honestly considered the overwhelming evidence concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who does not admit that He is the Son of God. Now, as I have said, I meet some who do not believe, but as we have talked and reasoned together, they have been honest in confessing, “I have not taken the time to read the Bible or consider the historical facts concerning Jesus.” Their resentment has been based upon an unfortunate childhood experience, upon the inconsistency of some Christian or perhaps the influence of a college professor; but always they have admitted that they have not honestly considered the person of Jesus Christ and His claims on their lives.

-- William R. Bright in “An Introduction to the Ten Basic Steps Toward Christian Maturity”

#4298

JESUS CAME TO SAVE SINNERS

"The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…" (1 Timothy 1:15 NRSV)

People do not talk much about sin these days. The psychiatrist's couch has replaced the mourners' bench for many people, and obedience to a higher moral authority has given way to doing your own thing. Yet we are not at peace. We suffer from a feeling of alienation -- spiritual disease -- from which we yearn for deliverance. We may call it many things; the Bible calls it sin.

If there is no higher authority to whom we might be disobedient, then, of course the idea of sin becomes nonsense. But if there is a Creator who so wants our love to the extent that God demonstrates in Jesus Christ, then sin cannot be brushed away by calling it something else…

The One born in Bethlehem's manger comes to show us what and who we ought to be and to take from us the burdens of unbelief and hardheartedness from which we cannot unburden ourselves. Jesus sets us free from sin.

-- Robert Luccock in “Come to the Cradle”


#4230

AN UNCOMFORTABLE CALLING

“Then Jesus told them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.’”  (Mark 16:15 NLT)

“Do you love Me enough to tell them?” Christianity is rare among the world religions in containing an explicit command to tell unbelievers the Good News and to urge them to convert. It is an uncomfortable calling… This obligation to evangelize is perhaps the aspect most resented by those outside the faith, and most neglected by those inside. It is an awkward calling. But it is commanded of Jesus, as blunt as the calls to love our enemies and to care for the poor… 

-- Frederica Mathewes-Green


#4178