Sitting in a local shopping mall, I began to reflect on one of the most important and profound truths ever to be revealed by the angels of God, the people of God, and God Himself.
Jesus died for all.
Friends, enemies, people I like and those I don’t give a hoot about.
Americans, Canadians, Mexicans, Chinese, and even those who haven’t a clue to their nationality.
People who think like me, act like me, vote like me, and like the same kinds of food.
But, He so loved the world He died for those who are even the exact opposite of me.
And He loves them as much as He does me.
Jesus died for everyone who’s now in Heaven, as well as those who are incarcerated forever in the place of the damned.
There are more than seven billion people on this planet and Jesus died for each and every one.
He died for the conservative, the liberal, the gay, and the straight.
Those with tons of intellectual power and those who barely have enough smarts to blow their nose; Jesus died for them.
Many say they don’t believe, can’t believe, in such a ridiculous thing. They claim mankind made up a fairytale to make themselves feel better about the hereafter.
People say a lot of things.
Some say they used to believe, but they outgrew such nonsense. Others won’t believe because, in their minds, the gospel doesn’t make sense. Like, why would God do such things? Create mankind knowing he would fall from his position of glory. Give His Son (if He could be called that) for people who demonstrated nothing but contempt for Him. And raise Him from the grave three days later?
To those who have such a difficult time with faith (or in things they can’t figure out, explain, see, etc.), they must have forgotten all the times they have believed something they haven’t figured out, could explain, or ever saw.
Most people will follow their doctor’s advice, even if it includes going under a surgeon’s knife. Why? They certainly can’t figure out the whole procedure, nor will they be awake to assist. No, they believe because they choose to believe.
And make the necessary arrangements.
But whether or not they really believed the doctor isn’t what made the doctor’s message true or false.
The doctor knew.
The message isn’t true because it’s validated by the hearer. Nor is it false, because the majority won’t believe. Truth. Jesus lived, died, and rose again. He did.
He did it for me, you, and anyone who’s ever taken a breath of air. Jesus died for all.
Believe it? Good.
Can’t figure it out? Good.
There’s only One Person Who knows for sure, Who planned everything, and Who continually invites all to believe. God, the Father. He knows.
So why not choose to trust, even though it all seems so preposterous?
Why not yield your life to the One Who cares for you more than you or I could ever imagine?
Jesus died for all.
That includes YOU!
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:16 – 3:17 ESV)
Jan Grace 