"ALL OR NOTHING!"

VOLUME XXXII OCTOBER 26, 2009 #44

“ALL OR NOTHING!”

“He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on Him.” (John 3: 36).

“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)

“If the great assertions of our Christian, faith are true—if there is one God over all the earth; if there is a Son of God calling us to rise and follow; if there is a Spirit of God speaking in our conscience through the Word convicting and convincing; if there is a Kingdom of God that shall outlast the stars; if there is an Eternity of God towards which we all are moving; if there is a Throne of God before which we shall stand to give account, when this earthly life is done; if these things which we say we believe are more than pious sentiments, if they are facts, then they are incomparably the most important facts with which every one of us has to reckon, implying, nay demanding, that we make Religion the master force of all our life, and God in Christ the burning center of our being!”
(Jas. S. Stewart – Adapted.)

If the Bible is true, if the Christian Religion is true at all, then serving God through faith and obedience in Jesus Christ indeed demands center place in our hearts and lives! Rather than circumscribing or hampering life, as many seem to fear if they take Religion seriously, the Gospel opens life up, makes it full, fills it with meaning, light, love, glory, and hope! It is life bereft of Gospel truth that is cold, dark, dismal, depressing, short-sighted, and checkered with excruciating pain!
And this glorious Gospel Religion we embrace is neither as confusing or impossible as some assume. What does it require? Believing in Jesus Christ. Doing what is right and fair and honest. Showing kindness, love, and mercy to all. Having a personal daily walk with God our Heavenly Father. Could anything be simpler? (And the tough times and the tight spots and the hard experiences He helps us with through the Holy Spirit, the angels, the Church, the Holy Word, and prayer!)
This holy Religion, it is all or it is nothing! Let us give it our everything!

Larry Atkin, Preacher