Tag Archives: the hope of eternal life

Lost and Found

Posted on December 8, 2023 by expressyourself4him

If you’ve ever lost something valuable at school or work, most places still have a lost and found area. While this doesn’t mean that a good Samaritan will take the time to return what you lost, there is a process in place to restore what was lost. During a meal with a first century tax collector, Jesus refers to His purpose for coming to earth: to seek and to save that which was lost.

And Jesus said to him, Today is [[b]Messianic and spiritual] salvation come to [all the members of] this household, since Zacchaeus too is a [real spiritual] son of Abraham; 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost, Luke 19:9-10.

This concept was shared with a Pharisee named Nicodemus. Meeting under the cover of darkness, Nick wanted to know more about being born again, John 3:1-5. Trying to be sarcastic, Jesus shuts down any attempts by Nicodemus to be funny. Jesus felt so strongly about the topic of lost and found, the hope of eternal life is presented below.

For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten ([d]unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him, John 3:16-17.

Christian artist Brit Nicole sings about this message in her song “the Lost Get Found.” If you want to dissect this spiritual concept, God isn’t a disciplinarian looking to strike sinners down with fire and brimstone from heaven. Rather, God’s heart breaks when a sheep gets lost, Luke 15:6-7. Therefore, God loves the lost and sent His one and only son Jesus to save us from sin. This is the hope of Christmas: the Mass of Christ.

by Jay Mankus

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Jesus, Joy, and Generosity

Posted on November 2, 2021 by expressyourself4him

Before I became a Christian, there were several individuals that I met which stood out to me. I couldn’t figure out what it was about these people, but each of them possessed an inner peace. One winter night during my sophomore year of high school, a man in a wheel chair gave the keynote address to an audience full of athletes. By the time Skip Wilkins reached the conclusion of his testimony, I wanted what he had inside of his heart, Jesus.

I am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live). He will come in and he will go out [freely], and will find pasture. 10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it [b]overflows), John 10:9-10.

Joy isn’t a feeling that comes and goes. Rather, joy is a state of mind that is fueled by the hope of eternal life, 1 John 5:13. Yet, joy isn’t a recognizable attribute in every Christian. Your degree of commitment to the Lord will affect what spiritual fruit if any that is naturally displayed every day. Yet, free will causes many college students to partake in their own prodigal like experiences. Subsequently, until human beings hit rock bottom or when common sense returns, joy will be absent.

May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope. 14 Personally I am satisfied about you, my brethren, that you yourselves are rich in goodness, amply filled with all [spiritual] knowledge and competent to admonish and counsel and instruct one another also, Romans 15:13-14.

The goal of any Christian is to put everything together so that a personal relationship with Jesus yields joy and generosity. The apostle Paul refers to this in the passage above. When anyone reaches this state, an assurance in God spreads hope to your heart. For those that continue their journey with God, joy and peace comes from a spiritual understanding of God’s promises, Philippians 4:6-7. As you draw near to God, may the love of Jesus result in joy and generosity.

by Jay Mankus

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