When I was a hot broken mess trying to survive life on this earth, a lot of well meaning Christians tried to share the gospel with me. The one common thread among all that approached me was this question, "Don't you want to live forever?" They would go on to tell me about how Jesus is the answer to eternal life. As I mentioned in a previous post, they would tell me that if I walked away from my sinful life, I would have everlasting life. I think that is a lovely thought. I think that it might even work to draw some people to Jesus. In the corporate world, or really all of my worlds, I have heard the phrase, "know your audience." The same can be said for how we share the hope of Jesus.
The message of eternal life may only be relevant to those who are afraid of dying. We need to make Jesus more relevant than just eternal life. Jesus is relevant today. The relationship that He wants to have with us TODAY is relevant. He is relevant in ALL things. We need to make sure that we aren't just making Him relevant in death.
People who are hurting or broken need to understand that Jesus loves them. Right Now! Today! They need to know that He is the healer. He wants nothing more than to fill up the hole that is in their life. They one they have been trying to fill up with everything but Jesus and can't figure out why it isn't working. When I was the one hurting and broken, trying everything but Jesus, the thought of eternal life made me want to cry. I barely had the will to get through next day. The last thing I wanted to think about was having to deal with my life FOREVER. I didn't understand that the forever life they were talking about was one full of love, hope, faith, and a Father who loved me unconditionally.
Let us make sure that we are sharing how Jesus is working in our lives today. Let's make Him relevant.
So so true! I felt the same way! I needed more to hear that He was my friend, that he understood, and that he listened and cared about today and what I was in the middle of right now. Well said!!!
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