Easter Sunday

To God be the glory, great things He has done, so loved He the world that He gave us His Son.

This is a very nice hymn and i used to sing it during my secondary school days in Saint Andrews.

This week, we remember how Christ died for us on the Cross on Good Friday and rose again three days later. We celebrate the good news and rejoice in the fact that God loves us so much.

These days, i wonder to myself about John 3:16. Then i also pondered about why Jesus says that not everyone who calls Him Lord, He will acknowledge them. Could it be that in today's society, many say they know Jesus but in their hearts, they do not believe this and they are so far away from our loving Lord?

This reminds me of some Chinese Serials i watched on Channel 8. I always found it amusing when the girl always ask the guy "Do you love me or not?" The guy replies, "Of course i love you!" Then his handphone rang and it was his other girlfriend, asking him where he was. lol!

John 3:16 says if we believe, we will be saved. What is it that we have to believe. Well, it says to we believe that God has loved us so much that He gave His Son do die for us to wash away our sins so we can be forgiven, reconciled with God and have eternal life.

I wonder how would you react or treat a person if he or she did something that made you so grateful and you know you can never ever repay what he or she has done. Would you want to do something special to show your thanks? Would you then begin to love that person more and be willing to help him or her as much as possible? Would you change your lifestyle because of it. I am sure you have heard of stories about drug addicts or chain smokers who turn their lives 180 degrees around when the truth finally sinks in. Yes, lifestyles will change and lives will be different and it would be the same when the truth that is written in the Bible sinks into people. In the bible, it records that the apostle Paul has changed, from one who persecutes Christians, to one that gets thrown in prison because he told people the good news of Jesus. Even in prison, he would still try to preach the Gospel to outside world.

Many people today says they are Christians but nothing speaks better than their actions. Like a drug addict who has turn a new leaf or a person who is in love, their actions speaks for themselves. They dun simply say, "Oh, i will stop taking drugs" or "I love you". They lead their lives to show people that. I remember reading this nice sentence about spreading the gospel. It says "Spread the Gospel and if necessary, use words."

My first reaction was " Huh? You do have to open your mouth to tell people about Jesus and the good news. How can you do that without opening your mouth?"

As i read it again, i realise what the message is saying is that we ourselves have to be a good example for people to see a difference. We have to lead lives that demostrates our faith and our love for God. We do that by following what Jesus calls us to do. Then people will see a difference in the lives we lead and will begin to ponder and ask questions. Then, if these people really want to seek the answers, the answers will be found for it is written in the bible, Seek and you shall find.

So, just as i have backslided for so many years, i know it so easy to get distracted by the world that we do not see the need to go Church. We do not see the need for cell group and we do not see the need to pray. I know how it feels because i am guilty of every one of those i have mentioned here.

But i hope to share with all of you that we have a God that truly loves us. I am like a sheep that was lost and the good shepard came and rescued me and brought me back to the flock. I am forever grateful that God has given me a chance again to lead a life that is lead by the Holy Spirit and to walk closer with God. There will be times when we fall but Jesus has told us that if we truly repent and ask God for forgiveness, God restores us again so we can walk closely with Him.

So, if we really believe in John 3:16, let our lives we lead be an example to everyone so that all of us can truly spead the Gospel without using words.

Praise God!

Amen.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

I am sure every Christian is familiar with John 3:16. Its the amazing news that Jesus tells us about how much God loves us.

I asked this question during a group meeting one evening. I asked if that was enough to be saved? Is doing what is stated enough to have eternal life? I got several answers, some saying that is not enough and we have to live our lives right as well. Some says we have to obey the 10 commandments as well in order to have salvation.

But to me, John 3:16 is enough for salvation. Jesus himself said it so. Believe in Him and you will have eternal life. Afterall, no good works can earn you a place in heaven.

So, is that all that is required? Some people might say but that sounds too simple? Other might say that is too easy or too good to be true.

Do you remember meeting your girlfriend or the times you both went dating? haha! I dun know but i imagine you would always want to see her everyday. Even if it is only for a while right? You just want her to be part of your life everyday. Then when you know what she likes to eat or wear, you will start buying her things or doing certain things you know she would like. Seeing her smile makes it all worth and all the time, you feel its hardly any trouble at all.

I know my cousin's boyfriend waited like 5 hours for her. haha! She was working and he was waiting at her workplace for 5 hours so he can go and accompany her to have dinner and then send her home. =) So nice right? My cousin was so touched by his actions and it made her love him even more. But my question is what makes someone do all that or behave like this? I know that Singaporeans cannot even wait for 5 minutes, let alone 5 hours. So, why would this guy wait 5 hours and yet felt happy doing it?

Well, it is all because of love. Love makes people turn 180 degrees. Love changes people. Love makes people do things willingly. Love makes people value others more than themselves.

So back to my question earlier. Is John 3:16 enough?

Well, if you believe in Jesus and what He did on the cross for us, then you believe that God loves us so much. Then, when you realise how much God loves you and what He has done for you, it humbles you. The Bible says God loves us first and because we believe that, we cannot help but love Him back for all He has done for us. So, if you love God, you will turn 180 degress. You will change your lifestyle. You will see things differently and you will want to do all that is good. Its automatically done. You dun have to force yourself to do it, you dun have to remind yourself to do it but you just want to do it. Like my cousin's boyfriend, willingly, he will wait 5 hours for her. He just wanted, compelled if you like, to do it. If he could turn back time, he would still do it and still wait 5 hours for her because he loves her.

So, that is what it is to believe and like John 3:16 says, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

Salvation is given freely. Will you accept God's love and the salvation that He has given to us?

Praise God!

Amen