Everybody Needs Jesus
“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” John 5:39
I was watching a Fourth of July/Independence Day special, and they introduced an up-and-coming country singer whose first name is Matthew, but I don’t remember his last name. (There are several country singers who are named Matthew). What I do remember about him was his exuberance and excitement about being a follower of Jesus Christ. Jesus was all he could talk about. Jimmy Failla, a comedian who frequently appears on Fox, looked at him and asked, “Are you telling me that I need Jesus?” The young singer replied, “Everybody needs Jesus”. He is so right. It was so refreshing to see and hear a young man who is not ashamed to talk about Jesus in front of millions of viewers. Yesterday’s blog was about not being offended in Jesus, and this young man had no offense in Jesus whatsoever. He likely offended many viewers who do not know Christ like he and so many others do. He also gave God the credit for his success in country music. He will likely be mocked by others in the industry, but I hope that he stays strong for the Lord, and that the Lord blesses him greatly.
Wouldn’t it be great if every believer had that much enthusiasm and courage to spread the gospel? One of my former pastors many years ago always used to say that he never got over being saved. Everyone who knows Christ and has come to Him in repentance and faith should never “get over” being saved or become indifferent, take for granted, or let other things take precedence over serving and honoring Christ. When a person has Jesus Christ living within his or her soul, is filled with the Holy Spirit, and realizes the treasure that they possess in Christ, he or she has more than anyone else on earth. I know that it is difficult for an unbeliever to understand what it is like to having Christ as one’s Lord and Savior. Those who have never trusted Christ have different ideas about what it means to be saved. Some think you have to give up certain things. Well, yes, you are supposed to give up sin to the best of your ability with the help of the Holy Spirit. However, what you get in exchange is priceless–freedom from guilt, a guide and comforter in the Holy Spirit, and a different outlook on life, one that is filled with hope and anticipation.
The proof of Jesus and His gospel is in the Bible. Some folks think that the Bible is just a storybook, a series of allegories or fables, or not really the word of God. This is still a free country and folks are free to believe that, but how can they be so sure that the Bible is not the word of God, and that man will not be judged by the words written therein? They might say, “Well, then, how can you be sure that it is the word of God?” That’s easy. When you know the author of the Bible, you have all assurance in the world that every word is God’s word, and that everything that has been prophesied has either already come to pass or will at some future date, maybe sooner than later. Besides, if you have Jesus in your heart, He is bound to make Himself known to you and to those around you, like the young country singer exhibited on television the other night.
My hope and prayer is that, from this day forward, all born-again believers, including me, will not be shy in telling others the best news that they could ever hear. Some folks will not accept the gospel, but it is not the believer’s job to make them accept it. We don’t have that kind of power, but we can do our best to be convincing. If our lives back up what we say we believe, then we have done our reasonable service (Romans 12:1). Besides, I don’t think that there is a whole lot of time left to get the word out.