Hey, it's been a while. It's been busy, too busy. Elevate youth and other area churchs took off to the fall retreat and it was great time. It is now time to focus on the rest of the year and growing Elevate youth. I have a great group of leaders and an awesome group of teens.
We continue to wrestle and talk about beliefs and truths. So I ask this question: "Why Jesus?" Or I could ask it another way: "Why not any other world religion or belief system?" When I ask these questions, I find it somewhat amusing and yet sad, that most people give more thought to buying a car than they do in choosing what it is they will believe as it relates to our existance.
Belief systems are not just something that we find comfort in when things are tough and we need something bigger than us. Each belief system supposedly answers life's questions for those who are seeking. But I would challenge that. Some beliefs simply create more questions than they bring answers.
Of the four major religions, Hinduism, Buddism, Islam and Christianity, only Christianly offers answers to our origins, why we are actually here, how we are supposed to live with ourselves and each other and defines our purpose for being IE: our destiny as human beings. Also, the definitive difference between Christainity and all other world religions is that only Jesus actually made the claim that he was God. With that being said, his claims should be investigated in a way that is different than the others.
Jesus said he was truth. He stated that he was God's son. He claimed that his one and only purpose was to die for humankind's sins and most importantly he claimed that once killed he would rise from the dead. That claim in and of itself seperates him from any other philosopher in history. If Jesus did not raise from the dead then the Bible is in fact just another book. However, if Jesus did raise from the dead then we best look deeply at his claims and life.
I believe that Jesus did rise from the dead, that the Bible is a very accurate representation of his life and ministry. I also believe that there is enough evidence to reasonably conclude these things, even though faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen (Hebrews 11:1). God requires faith. However because Jesus had/has all the answers to life's most important questions he is worthy of our faith. An example: I have always bought X type of car and will buy no other kind because I have always had good luck with it. I have faith that the next car I buy will be as good as the last because that company has proven worthy of my faith in them. If we investigate Jesus,(as hard as we would investigate when purchasing a new car)we will find it very difficult to disprove his claims.
If we have the courage to read scripture, test it and apply it to our lives, we will find that it provides all the answers as to why we are here, how we are to treat each other, what our purpose is and what ultimatly is our final destination.
One final thought: Just because I believe Jesus is LORD doesn't make it so. He is LORD because he said so and proved it by raising himself from the dead. I stand on that by faith because he has proven himself worthy of my faith.