American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow described loneliness this way:
“Ships that pass in the night, and speak to each other in passing. Only a signal shown, and a distant voice in the darkness. So on the ocean life, we pass and speak to one another. Only a look and a voice, then again darkness and silence.”
This cold feeling of isolation is ubiquitous for so many people. They live life wondering if anyone notices them. They face difficulties and wonder if anyone cares. Hundreds of years ago David echoed the heart of the lonely when he said…
“I looked for someone to come and help me, but no one gives me a passing thought! No one cares a bit about what happens to me.” (Ps 142:4, NLT)
To people who feel this way, how comforting these words of Jesus should be:
“The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Lk 19:10)
“I’ve come so they can have real and eternal life, a more and better life than they ever dreamed of.” (Jn 10:10, TM)
“The mere sound of his name will signal hope, even among far-off unbelievers.” (Mt 12:21, TM)
People who follow Jesus should be saying, “Yes! There is someone who really cares about you…me!” Absolutely Jesus cares for them too, but we are the ones who communicate the reality of his love and care.
“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (Jn 13:35)
“I am giving you the same work to do that I’ve been doing.” (Jn 14:12, TM)
Jesus calls his people to be a positive force. We are to be people of mercy, grace, justice, peace, and love. We are the flesh and blood, hands and feet of Jesus. We live in a world that is diseased and polluted, yet Christians aren’t known for doing much. The message from people who claim to be followers of Christ is strange and distorted…
“Jesus always gives me a parking spot near the front of the store”…she said
“Praise the Lord! Jesus helped my football team win!”…he said
“Jesus hates sin! Misery, death, and eternity in hell await you unless you repent!”…they shouted from a bullhorn
“This sinful and fallen world is destined for destruction. Until then we hold on and persevere.”…he preached
How did the greatest message in the world become so lame? It’s through Jesus’ resurrection that death has been swallowed up. It’s through Jesus that we are living, and will never stop living. We are not drawn to him because of what he can do for or to us. We are drawn to Jesus because he loves us the way we are, and keeps loving us. The gospel is not to “get us somewhere else,” rather it’s to bring life, power, peace, change, and the hope of God here.
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