ONE WAY: JESUS

John 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1Tim.2:5

 

The German philosopher, Frederick Nietzsche popularised the phrase, “God is dead”. Listen to what he said,

“God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. Yet his shadow still looms. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers? What was holiest and mightiest of all that the world has yet owned has bled to death under our knives: who will wipe this blood off us? What water is there for us to clean ourselves? What festivals of atonement, what sacred games shall we have to invent? Is not the greatness of this deed too great for us? Must we ourselves not become gods simply to appear worthy of it?”

That was in 1882. Scientists were thinking that religion was dead and with it God.  They felt that there was a need to invent something new. They wanted a world without religion. Karl Max, a German Economist said "Religion acts merely as an opiate. “Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the people".

Max’s theories were influential to the rise of the socialist states of Eastern Europe. Contrary to what philosophers think, God is not dead, and religion is not an opiate. Religion is very popular.

The Popularity of Religion

The CIA’s world facts book of 2012 quotes world population as 7 billion. Of this 90% are involved in one form of religion or another. 6.3 billion out of 7 billion people are searching for God in all those religions. Even the remaining 10% of the world’s population who say they are not involved in any religion are simply putting up a resistance to the fact of God.  They would long for God in their extremities. God has set religion at the heart of man (Job 32:8; Rom.1:19-20).

A credible explanation of the popularity of religion is that through religion man is seeking to fill a void, to satisfy a deep need. We are created to live in a relationship with God. Until we find that relationship there will always be something missing.  Man is always reaching up for God his Creator without knowing how or where to find Him.

The Missing Chunk Syndrome and its Solution

As it is written, “All we like sheep have gone astray…” (Isaiah 53:6). When you have not found God, there is usually a sense of emptiness. Some call it missing chunk; others call it a deep void.

Some try to fill this void with Religion, but religion does not save or deliver. Some try money, but money does not satisfy. Some of the richest men in the world today are still the saddest and most unfulfilled.

Others try drugs but they get addicted and waste their lives; others will run after sex. Some young lady once said, “These things provide instant gratification but they leave you feeling hollow afterwards.

Other people try hard work; Music, Sports or success. All these are not bad in themselves but they will not satisfy the deep hunger inside every human being.

 

The Solution: Jesus Christ

There is no one in history like Jesus. History belongs to Him. Today is October the forth, 2013. This means two thousand and thirteen years since the birth of Jesus Christ.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6, AV)

“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35, AV)

Jesus is the only one who can satisfy our deepest hunger because He is the only one who can restore our relationship with God.

(i)                  Jesus Christ satisfies our hunger for meaning and purpose in life. Is there a meaning and purpose to life? Albert Camus once said “man cannot live without meaning”. An old catechism clearly set fort why we are created: (1) to know God; (2) to love God; (3) to serve God in this life, and (4) to live with Him eternally.

“There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.” (Proverbs 19:21, AV)

 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13, AV)

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:37–40, AV)

 

 

 

 

(ii)                Jesus Christ satisfies our hunger for life beyond death. The reality is that we are all going to die one day. Most people do not want to die. But only in Jesus Christ do we find eternal life

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6, AV)

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3, AV)

 

 

(iii)               Jesus Christ satisfies our hunger for forgiveness. If we are honest we must admit that sometimes we do things we know that are wrong. Sometimes we feel ashamed doing those things, but sometimes not. In case you do not know Jesus tells us those things that are wrong which spoil our lives and our relationship with God (Mark 7:20-23). By the death of Christ on the Cross, He made it possible for us to be forgiven!

“And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” (Mark 7:20–23, AV)

This academic year you will endeavour to keep yourself from defilement. And If you need cleansing from defilement you will need Jesus. Jesus Christ chose to die on the Cross so that He can obtain forgiveness for man. To obtain forgiveness all you have to is come to Jesus. To fill that void in the soul all you have to do is come to Jesus. To satisfy the deep hunger for meaning all you have to do is come to Jesus.

You can tell Him, “Jesus I need you. Forgive my sins. Fill my emptiness. Satisfy my hunger”.

In the bible we read that,

“Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:13–14, AV)

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9, AV)

 “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37, AV)

If you find Christ and bind yourself unto him at this time, you will find this academic year to be very successful and satisfying.

(iv)              He will satisfy your need for Guidance

He said,

“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12, AV)

“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11, AV)

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6, AV)

He will in the end lead you to God.