“Jesus said unto (Thomas), I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me.”
Jesus lived a humble life, but He never hesitated to tell people the truth about Himself. Jesus was not just another person on this earth. The New Testament makes it plain that Jesus is God incarnate. Prophecies in the Old Testament made it clear that the Messiah was coming and that He would be the Savior. This morning, I thought of Jesus as the divine source of good. Jesus said that He did not come to condemn the world, but to save it. (John 3:17) What do I mean that Jesus is the divine source of good? According to the texts referred to above, Jesus is the source of salvation for those who come to Him by faith. Being saved and enabled to go to heaven forever is certainly a good thing. (That was a real understatement, wasn’t it?) I heard a song this morning that made me think of this: “If it hadn’t been for a place called Mount Calvary, If it hadn’t been for the old rugged cross, if it hadn’t been for a man called Jesus, forever my soul would be lost.” Our soul’s salvation was dependent on the coming of Jesus, of His death on the cross, of His resurrection and His ascension. Because of this, people have the opportunity to be saved. Satan does not have to be in control of people’s lives, because Jesus can save them from his control. The only thing that will count when our lives come to an end is whether or not Jesus was our Savior. In His love, holiness and power, Jesus purchased our salvation. Paul referred to this in 1 Corinthians 6:20, “For you are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” According to John 15:11, Jesus is the source of joy in our lives: “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” When Jesus saved us and empowered us with the Holy Spirit, He gave us His joy. The point here is that the joy that we have in Jesus is not circumstantial; we have it all of the time – it is a gift. This doesn’t mean that we will always be happy, because happiness is circumstantial. Happiness comes and goes with the events in our lives. I’ve never heard anybody say that they were happy all of the time. I can say, however, that I have experienced joy at times when I should have been dejected. The joy that Jesus gives to us rises up in our lives when we need it. We need to be aware at all times that Jesus has given us His joy, and live in the light of that joy. It will help us in the bleak times of our lives to keep our heads up and to keep on serving. James referred to this in James 1:2, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into diverse (many different) temptations (trials).” Why because our trials make us more patient with life’s difficult circumstances. Claim the joy that you have in Jesus. Jesus is the source of the peace that we have in our lives. In John 14:27, Jesus said: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be trouble, neither let it be afraid.” In John 16:33, Jesus said: “These things have I spoken unto you, that in Me you might have peace. In the world you will have tribulation (trouble): but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Jesus never promised to bring peace on earth. In fact, Jesus promised something quite different in Matthew 24:6-7: “And you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that you be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.” The history of the world before Jesus said this, and afterward, proved His point. Jesus gives peace to those who come to Him by faith and are saved. Jesus is the source of many good things in the lives of Christians. The three listed here are, in my opinion, the most important. Bro. Joe
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AuthorDr. Joe Beauchamp is the author of this blog and website. Categories
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