Have you ever felt alone or empty? Have you ever felt lost?
This is typically where we find unbelievers. People who do not know the love of Jesus Christ will typically find themselves in a place of want, loneliness, or confusion. So why is it that Christians find themselves in the same place? That question arose from this week‘s Bible study in my life. As I began to read and try to understand the passage in Ephesians, something became very clear to me. It was that Jesus is the answer! I’m not talking about the Sunday school Jesus that I once thought was just my ticket out of hell, or the Jesus that someone tried to explain, but came off as a free pass to do whatever I want—instead, the true Jesus.
In Ephesians chapter 2, Paul writes from prison to the town of Ephesus and explains the difference between Jews and Gentiles. For those of you who don’t know, the Jewish people are God‘s chosen people. They were the ones who lived in Israel or were known as Israelites. A Gentile is simply someone who is not Jewish. Ephesians 2 talks about how Jesus is the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant. The purpose of Jesus was, and will always be, to reconcile the lost to the Father.
When we recognize this, it changes everything. I believe that the reason Christians can easily find themselves in a place of wandering, confusion, and feeling straight-up lost is because we lose sight of the true Jesus. Let me ask you this way: how much time in your day or week do you dedicate to thinking about your problems? Thinking about how to come up with money that I don’t have to pay for a bill that I can’t afford. To help or change my child that I can’t control. To plan and worry about a situation that very well may never happen. We focus, plan, think, and prepare for our problems a lot. My question is: when was the last time we sat down and simply basked in the glory of Jesus Christ? Where we sat and thought about the promises that He made to Abraham and, because of Jesus Christ, they ring true for me as well. Promises like I am loved, that He will never leave me. Promises like I have been reconciled to the Father through the blood of Jesus Christ.
As I sit and dwell on who Jesus Christ is, it gives me peace. He is my peace, according to Ephesians 2:14. I heard a preacher say this weekend, “Whatever you’re facing, don’t be worried, don’t be afraid—it can’t be that bad.” I thought that was an awfully bold statement for a preacher to make, but then he followed it up with, “Because I have my Jesus. It can’t be that bad.”
Most will not find this comforting or even agree with it. It is something that I believe with my whole heart, though. As long as I have Jesus, there is nothing that can destroy me. When I remember who Jesus Christ is, my problems pale in comparison to His goodness, His faithfulness, His patience, His love, His mercy, and His grace. Somehow, simply calling on the name of Jesus changes everything.
I challenge you this week to spend time reminiscing and remembering the promises of Jesus Christ. To bask in the peace that He is. I encourage you to take a quiet time or to take a car ride and simply remember the truth and promises of Jesus. To really spend time thinking about who He is and what He has promised us.
