I have sought to show that in Jesus, God has revealed himself and has given us truth so we can obtain authentic answers to our deep existential questions. Our Creator knows perfectly what it takes for us, his human creatures to enjoy the abundant life he made us for, and he has spoken to the world by sending his Son from Heaven. Jesus’ life, teachings, death, and resurrection are so uniquely true that on that basis we can listen to him and trust the wisdom he brought us.

In fact Jesus himself made it plain: “I am come so that people may have life,” he explained, “and have it abundantly” (John 10.10). This abundant life we can enjoy here and now, even though Jesus also calls it “eternal life” because its pure happiness continues after death into eternity.

Jesus clarifies what the essence of this eternal life really is. When he prays to his Father, he says: “this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you sent” (John 17.3). As I have already shown in earlier posts, the real purpose of our human existence is to enjoy a positive, good, harmonious relationship with the God who loves us very much. That is what Jesus means when he speaks of knowing God – not just understanding theological truth, but being in a relationship with God, receiving his love and responding with gratitude. This is the true “Good Life”, the way to real happiness independent of circumstances. The day before he died, Jesus said to those whom he had trained, “if you know these things, you are happy if you put them into practice” (John 13.17). That’s the happiness I want for you.

God’s wisdom marks out the best way for human fulfilment. Our folly is that we follow other ways that in our blindness we think will bring us satisfaction: we are indifferent to God, or we misconceive of him; we ignore or spurn his word, we disobey his will, we live an anti-God lifestyle. Yet God kindly persists in seeking us. This revelation of a God who lovingly comes seeking sinners to draw them into his friendship is unique to Christianity. Jesus likened God to a shepherd who goes out to look for his lost sheep, finds it, and brings it home rejoicing (Luke 15.1-7).

As God seeks to bring us into the pure joy of being in a harmonious relationship with himself, he knows that our first need is to be forgiven. He has therefore taken the initiative, sending his Son on a Love Mission, so that by giving his life on the Cross our sins are “paid for” by our Saviour. This opens up the way for God to receive all sinners who turn to him, asking his forgiveness.

So now it is up to each one of us to respond to his generous kindness. God is not far away; he is knocking on your door. You need to hear his voice, calling you to turn to him. You can “hear” him as you read his life and words in the Gospels and then, he promises, “you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8.31-32). 

The truth of the Gospels is what we can believe. Jesus said, “whoever hears my word and believes in him who sent me has eternal life” (John 5.25).”This is the will of my Father, that whoever sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life” (John 6.40). 

And “whoever” includes you! 

Clive Every-Clayton