“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16, ESV
We like to think we are basically good or can earn a place in heaven, but it is only by faith in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus that we get there.
“and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:32, ESV
We know we are horrible, and this truth hurts, but the truth that God came to us to redeem us and restore us frees us to move past mistakes, sins, and horribleness and into life, love, and grace.
Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.
Proverbs 21:21, ESV
We know God’s love for us because He calls us to the pursuit of righteousness, and as we seek He gives us eternal life and righteousness through His Son.
A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.
Isaiah 40:6-8, ESV
At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.
Our sins have stacked up to heaven, deeper and more vile than we could know.
Sin is the act of willfully separating from God, putting something between God and ourselves, weakening ourselves from the inside out as we cut ourselves off from the source of life.
And God will let us have what we want. (Romans 1:20-32)
Therefore, we internally die continually, and the only hope is a long life to stave off the eternal death and suffering.
All because we choose our sin over God and His Word.
Yet, God came to us, breathing out His Word and His Spirit to give us new life through His death and resurrection.
We therefore prepare ourselves by investigating His eternal Word through reading the Scriptures and trusting in the Son.
We may still suffer in this world, but we have the hope of eternal life in New bodies with our Lord forever.
May we seek the Lord who gives us life, preparing ourselves by seeking His Word.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25-26, ESV
No one wants to die. It is our God who takes away the fear and permanence of death if we believe and trust in Him.
Do we truly love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths? Maybe I can help with the mind part, at least! This is Daniel M. Klem, apparent poet, reluctant yet passionate Disciple (Peter?), and foolish man attempting to understand theology!