Is that how we feel?

Let’s first parse the Good News: That Jesus Christ died for our sins, overcame death and attained the perfect standard of God for those who will trust in Him – eternal life for those who profess He is Lord.

Have you heard any preacher say, “Sin is anything that does not meet the perfect standard of God”? What does that even mean? And who cares? 

Preaching the Gospel feels strenuous. Why would we go around telling people they are flawed? It’s preachy, pushy and insensitive.

But we preach to ourselves all the time. When we tell ourselves that we’re better than the rest or that we’re never good enough, we preach comparison.

We also crave for acceptance. “Show me what you have to offer,” we say to each other. “Are you smart enough? Are you good enough? Are you deserving enough?”

However, where we breed comparison and pit ourselves against others, God breathes compassion.

Jesus Christ’s death is central to Christianity because He met God’s standard on our behalf. And it’s worth caring about – God’s standard – because He said that the cost of sin is death (Romans 6:23). 

Death exists because sin exists. But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. Death was once the end as we knew it, but Jesus Christ flung open the doors to everlasting joy.

That’s God’s gift to you and I – so we can either take it or leave it.

“You just trying to convert me, right?”

Do I wish you knew – if and when you feel hopelessness drive out all longing for the future – that Jesus cares for you?

Do I wish you knew – when you wonder why life is so unfair – that Jesus cares for you?

Do I wish you knew – when you feel that there’s got to be more to life than what you’re experiencing – that Jesus cares for you?

Of course I do.

Jesus doesn’t mean much when He’s not someone we trust in – but Jesus comes to mean everything when we hide our life in His.

Justice, peace, love, mercy and healing are trademarks of Heaven and given freely where Jesus dwells. And through faith – trusting in what we can’t yet see – Christ dwells in our hearts (Ephesians 3:16-17).

Have you experienced loneliness before? Well, here is a God who would dwell in us. By faith He resides within us – and permanently!

Faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour transforms us. Instead of just waiting to get into heaven, the God of heaven comes to work within us powerfully (Ephesians 3:20).

I love Ben Fitzgerald‘s response to those who say they can’t evangelise because they aren’t an evangelist: “But you’re a son – and a son always talks about his Father.”

Will our friends care about the Good News we share? We can’t know. But we do get to share the wonderful news of Jesus – and we must.