God made it easy - people make it hard

 

Hypothetically, archaeologists uncover an ancient container on top of which was a statement written on an ostracon saying that the sum of wisdom was to follow one practice to have an abundant life. Those who followed that prescription found it to be true. Others not satisfied with the wisdom revealed decided to open the vessel to see what was inside. The contents were from different eons and various places. Those studying the objects applied modern methods to decipher the obscure collection. The obsession to give meaning to each of the objects was frustrating and led to a life of disappointment.

There are ancient writings ranging from circa 1500 BCE to 70 CE authored by different people in various places at different times. These are individual writings yet intrinsically connected to one principle that offers eternal life, summed up by one statement – God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that each one who puts his trust in him might not perish but might have eternal life. The connecting theme of these writings is God’s reconciliation of people to himself. People who put their trust in God’s Son are given everlasting life. Those who disregard God’s way, might face eternal separation from him.

Listen to the disciple whom Jesus loved: “Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book, but these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.” Elsewhere Jesus personally confirmed the greatest commandments, the first is to love God, the second is to love your neighbour (in Hebrew someone near you). The audacious claim made by John is that the information written about Jesus, the evidence of his divinity, his teaching, the miracles he performed, and his example are presented so that we can put our trust in Jesus and be saved. No other author makes this claim, but is true of the gospels written by Matthew, Mark, and Luke who also present Jesus as Saviour.

All this Church stuff is human innovation, it is not required or condemned by God. God hasn’t given any directives for Churches, and they have nothing to do with his relationship with believers. Imagine a world with no Churches, a world in which believing in Jesus formed a bond tighter than the human family, because we are the family of God. Fellowship would not be limited to members of a Church but to all who put their trust in Jesus. There are no Churches in heaven, but the kingdom of God is on earth as well as heaven. Read John’s gospel and judge for yourself if he can be trusted, if what he wrote truly represents God’s word, and if eternal life is based on believing Jesus.