During one of our recent Holy Communion services the Holy Spirit spoke to me and proposed a question: “What if there was no Jesus?” He told me that I should share this with the membership, and I thought I would share it with you.
By now it should not be a secret that there is a concerted effort to eliminate Jesus Christ from our society. It is no secret that to be a Christian is quite unpopular (let alone a holiness preacher or believer). Every other religion and non-religion is acceptable but Christianity. Sad to say, several persons entrusted with great positions of influence and power, have made decisions and statements that question their commitment to Jesus Christ.
Our President of the United States has stated that the United States is no longer a Christian nation. The newly elected Pope also concluded that there was more than one way to get to heaven. He said you can be of any faith or doctrine. In fact, you don’t even have to be a believer in Christ – just do good works and you can go to heaven:
“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Isaiah 64:6
Imagine how our lives would be without Jesus Christ. First of all, we could not pray unto the Father because we would not have a Mediator (I Tim 2:5 I John 2:1). Secondly, we would not have a High Priest that was acquainted with our infirmities:
“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16
We would not have anyone to pray through; we would not have anyone to be our Advocate:
“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” 1 John 2:1-2
Had Jesus not come, our sins would not be forgiven (John 1:29); there would be no promise of eternal life (John 11:25-26); there would be no belief in healing (Is. 53:4-5); we would not have power to cast out evil spirits (Mark 16:17-18); and there would be no hope of abundant living.
We live in a world that continues to diminish the significance of Jesus. We live in a culture that wants to eradicate Jesus Christ out of our vocabulary, out of our learning institutions, out of our governments, out of our houses of worship, out of our relationships and ultimately out of our lives. Sadly, some people of notoriety are being used to promote this effort. However, I choose to be a vessel that will be an ambassador for Jesus Christ!
I considered how miserable my life would be without Jesus. I have thought about how hopeless and empty I would be without my Savior. My marriage, my family life, my ministry, my relationship with the Lord – my very reason for existing – would not be worth anything if it were not for Jesus Christ.
The next time you are taking the Lord’s Supper and the scripture is read of the words that Christ commanded, “…this do in remembrance of me,” reflect on how integral and irreplaceable Jesus is in our lives. And as I did, I believe you will think of His goodness and give Him a praise that will shift the atmosphere around you. He’s worthy of that praise and a whole lot more!!
I bless you in the name of the Lord!