What am I looking for right now? What is it that is not working? In what ways am I disillusioned? Hungry? Thirsty. Fearful? At peace?
THIS IS BIG:
How do hope, fear, and faith overlap?
√ Where does true hope originate? It is a supernatural gift given by God.
√ In what ways does fear kill hope? We are predisposed (our human nature) to choosing fear – which consumes our hope.
√ In what ways does faith unlock personal peace of mind?
There is a time-tested and quite effective mechanism for people to find hope. It can help settle fears, find clarity, and stimulate freedom for an honest, transparent, and hopeful heart.
First:
√ The idea that all religions are the same or equal is simply false. Jesus’ Kingdom has proven to have come from God – century after century.
√ The thought that Christianity was Jesus’ religion of choice is simply inaccurate. His devotion was Father-centric.
√ Finding hope goes much deeper than achieving happiness. Hope imagines an amazing destination – and counts on God to bring us safely home.
Jesus said to (Thomas), “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father as well; from now on through Me you know Him, and have seen Him.” – John 14:6-7
Because the Son was at the Father’s side when the world was created, their plan for arrival on earth in human form brings three very important things together. If we know how we are going (the Way Jesus walked) and wish to have genuine success in getting there (via the Truth) then we will experience (the Life) – which is the prize of the entire God Story. Genesis 1 is the account of the unfolding of all life. The Revelation prophecy explains how Jesus (our Creator and Judge and Savior) will bring the gift of a return to the Garden of God (Paradise).
It is not so much that we need to find our way to God but rather our eyes must be opened to the fact that God is actively pursuing us. The Father, His Son Jesus, and His Holy Spirit are working together to bring about our personal experience of finding our way back to our true identities – as sons and daughters of God Most High.
In speaking with Zaccheus (a hated tax collector) in Luke 19 Jesus says, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, (Zaccheus) is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” All sons of Adam and Eve (humanity) and of Abraham and Sarah (Hebrews) are LOST.
The Way has little to do with religion and everything to do with walking the path and example of how Jesus walked. He showed us our way through love – and this perfect love overcomes fear. 1 John 4:18 makes this plain: “There is no fear in love; but perfect love throws out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.” (perfected: brought to life) Walking the Jesus’ Way casts out fear.
It is common for people to say “that’s just your truth.” In God’s realm there is only One Truth, and it is in this realm we live – despite our words and perspectives. This truth is written in what is made (Psalm 19), in the person of Jesus Himself (Colossians 1), and through disclosure of the Word of God through the Holy Spirit (John 14:21; Hebrews 1:1-4).
According to Paul we are all gifted with life (Acts 17:22-31). And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” (Matthew 19:17) This is why we must be born a second time.
Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water (first time) and the Spirit (second time) he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
This is not a merely a clever religious or church metaphor. It comes from the mouth of Jesus – God’s Son. It runs deeper than any identifying platitude – and it cuts to the heart of finding life that will never end. That is something worth looking for. Does it overlap with your current journey thoughts? What are you looking for right now? Hope? Faith? Direction?
Dave and Burnadette and friends