The "Other" Option??
Is there any other way to live this life than in and with Jesus Christ? Absolutely! Just as sure as there is the Father in heaven, there is a life outside of Jesus Christ. However, this kind of life is quite different from the godly life promised through Jesus. God promises those that believe in Jesus as the Son of God will find Life and be a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17) This found life in Jesus Christ reaches back in the past days and connects us to all the blessings of Abraham as the forerunner of God’s chosen people and his coming descendants. In addition, extends forward the blessed assurance of eternal life in Christ to the expected end of being completed without blemish in presence of the almighty God. (Ephesians 5:27, Colossians 1:22) Thus in the life of Jesus, born again believers walk by faith and live in the revealed hope of Jesus with the assurance of all that He has promised.
However, the life outside of Jesus Christ is a life hoping for nothing greater than themselves. A life without God is a life dependent upon one's self to live and have his own being. What does that mean, a life without God is a life of self-dependency! (Galatians 6:3) Although there is knowledge of what is morally good and evil, their existence is solely on their self-perceptions, their abilities, and what they provide for themselves for the benefit of themselves. Talk about being a box!
A life outside of Jesus Christ is a life of self-pride, over indulgence of inner desires and carnal appetites influenced by the world’s buffets. (Luke 4:1-13) People outside of God find themselves moving from their own inner darkness of the human existence to becoming enticed by powers that pull them directly from a way of goodness to a way of wickedness that becomes a normal path in living. Now blinded from the very way of living that opposes God and His holiness, one lives a life of captivity by the adversary of God. This is a life fueled and deceived by the daily successes or failures of themselves. In all that one can accomplish without God, in all they can obtain, their life remains a failure because they have not come to know they need a Savior, much less come to know of the glorious life offered in the life of King Jesus Christ.
As this life outside of Jesus Christ is doom to destruction, the Bible reminds us that this is the very place Jesus finds us to restore us to the Father’s heart. (John 12:46) In this place where we are dead and void, He is faithful to make us alive in Jesus Christ! The Father will pursue those without Him and extend his mercy through His love even in the trespasses of ourselves. (Ephesians 2, 1John 4:16) It is in the dark places that God reveals the Light of Jesus so that each one may see and have the opportunity to come to believe in their hearts that Jesus is Lord. (John 6:44, Romans 10:19-10)
How does Jesus penetrate the light of God into the darkness of the heart? Mercy! It is the mercy of God that is a necessity for those who are sick, and Jesus desires to extend it graciously (Mark 2:17, Matthew 9:12-13). It is the mercy of God that makes the other option, not the final option. Life and Life abundantly in Jesus Christ take on a new meaning of compassion when all come to know that the lost can be found! (Luke 19:10) There is still a living Hope of Jesus Christ for those who have come to see the saving grace of Jesus Christ for them. Acknowledging Jesus as Lord and remembering the sacrifices of His life matures you to have a heart of gratitude being convinced your Best Life is in Jesus Christ, the only option!
