Thoughts from The Bible

Thoughts from the Bible

Thursday, 01 April 2021 12:57

Jesus Is The Way To A Better Life
by Terry Broome

The popular goal of our generation is “the good life.” This dream is not new. It can be found in every age and every walk of life. To find the truly good life we must recognize that JESUS IS THE WAY! Before we can come to see how this is true, we will have to cultivate a new way of thinking. Jesus corrects our misconceptions. It’s unfortunate that so many people think of the “good life” in terms of material prosperity, pleasure, and popularity. It’s far better that we sum it up as “HAPPINESS” and “PEACE.” Even a cursory observation reveals that many wealthy, high-living, famous people are extremely unhappy and lacking inner peace. Jesus is the way to true happiness and peace. He teaches that there is more to life than material possessions: Luke 12:15 (KJV) 15 “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”

Our material possessions do not define who we are and they certainly don’t provide us with a lasting joy. They are too fleeting. Jesus offers a peace which things of the world cannot give, and a joy which is complete and full:
John 14:27 (KJV) 27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

John 15:11 (KJV) 11 “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” What the world cannot give, Jesus can give. How does He do it?
First, He identifies and roots out the real problem. What is the cause of so much unhappiness in this world? What deprives so many of inner peace? Jesus declared that the source of all these things starts with the sinful hearts of men: Mark 7:21 – 23 (KJV) 21 “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”

It’s one to thing to identify the problem; but What Has Jesus Done to Provide a Solution? The apostle Paul explains in his letter to Titus: Titus 3:3-7 (KJV) 3 “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 4But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” In other words, Jesus removes the problem of unhappiness and lack of inner peace by first removing the cause: SIN! But there is more…
Secondly, Jesus leads the way to true happiness and peace by teaching us to seek new goals in life. He warns us of the folly of seeking after riches: Matthew 6:19 (KJV) 19 “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:” Riches are perishable, and open to theft; therefore, He teaches us to put our treasure in heaven: Matthew 6:20 (KJV) 20 “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:”

Finally, Jesus leads the way to true happiness by giving us what we do not expect! Once we learn not to make material things, pleasure, and fame our goals in life, but to instead make following Jesus and His teachings our goal, He then provides us an unexpected portion of these very things! Matthew 6:31 – 33 (KJV) 31 “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
The author can be reached for comments at 256-574-2489.