The Great Debate

I wouldn't construe myself as a defender of the faith, as much as I would construe myself as an example, but today I think will be the closest I get to defending it, sophomorically at best. I have always had a hunger to personally know the Lord, but I do not know the Bible cover to cover. Nor do I have a dissertation on the many mysteries of heaven. I would not consider myself a terrible sinner nor a perfect saint. I am somewhere between Martha and Mary. Sometimes I rush around trying to be the hands and feet and other times I kind of lay around and rest in His presence. I get both of these women, and I see the importance of both of them. We need people willing to work and prepare the way and we need others soaking up the glory and wisdom of the Father. Furthermore, I have come to the conclusion that apologetics can come in two forms. Those who defend the faith through discussion and debate and those who defend it by being the true hands and feet of Christ. They are both necessary and both important to the advancement of Gods Kingdom. One is excellent at oration, the other excellent at showing it. It is not uncommon for people to be one more so than the other, and it is a rather extraordinary thing to witness a person who embodies the Christian walk in its totality. Matthew 5:16 says, "So don't hide your light! Let it shine brightly before others, so that the commendable things you do will shine as light upon them, and then they will give their praise to your Father in heaven." Here we see that it is through being an example His goodness shines through us and often draws others into an encounter with God. Yet, there are always those people who need evidence beyond the action. They need to see the facts and the figures. They need to be intellectually challenged, and every wise person knows that feelings and emotions cannot debate with personal opinion or facts. They are from two different lanes with just enough room for an occasional cross- referencing, but they simply are of little use for one another.

How do you explain all of the bad that happens in the world? How do you explain all of the people who do not know Jesus who are inherently good people? There are a lot of questions you and I have for God and His divine plan. He created the heavens, the earth, the birds,the bees, and you and me. There are approximately 7.59 billion people on this earth, with 7.59 billion different experiences, different personality traits, different hopes, different dreams, different struggles, and personal belief systems. How can anyone be so bold as to say that they are the only way, the truth, and the light. Well, I can tell you exactly who is that bold, Jesus. He happens to not only be the boldest human being to ever walk the earth, but also the most authentic and truth bearing, life giving humble King. There is not a single King, let alone person or false deity who roamed the earth who lived life with the same level of willingness, humility, love, peace, healing, and joy as Jesus Christ. He healed the sick, defended woman, outcasts, and shook religion to its core. He not only was born of a Virgin, but he suffered, died, was buried, and rose from the dead! It says in Mark 10:45 " For even the Son of Man did not come expecting to be served by everyone, but to serve everyone, and to give his life as the ransom price in exchange for the salvation of many." Many have suffered for a cause, but none have suffered for the price of every persons salvation like Jesus.

Often it is said, plenty of people are good without God- my response to them is it is true. You can absolutely be a good person without God. However, you cannot carry the Truth, the Light and the Glory of Christ to transform and transcend the world around you without Him. It does not mean you are not capable of being a good person it just limits to what level you will transcend in your walk on this earth. As Christians we walk from glory to glory; which is intrinsically different than walking from place to place. It is through Christ all things are possible, not through man. As we read in Phillipians 4:13 " I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". We are called as Christians to edify and lift each other up, but it is not through each other, but rather Jesus that all things are possible.We are a conduit of His love, but He embodies it. He is truly the only way, the Light, and the Truth and I know this to be certain because I among others have been witnesses of His miraculous goodness. Through the pursuance of relationship with Christ and a desire to know Him and the living Word I have had the doors to healing open up in my life. The greatest exchange that ever took place in my life was when I laid my entire life down at His feet. I gave Him everything, literally. My job, my health, my hobbies, my apartment, my belongings, my friends, and my family. He took my hand and began to heal me of mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical ailments. Together we broke off generational curses, began to heal my body, He surrounded me with a spiritual family who loved me and celebrated me for who God created me to be, He brought me to a place of rest and out of the striving and toiling curse of man, and He showed me the way to a life filled with supernatural levels of purity, peace, and joy. Although it could be said that others can have that too, it does not remotely compare to the things that God places His hand upon. Where His glory flows there is no room for emptiness. Even the most accomplished people, kindest people, and healthiest people on earth can feel a void inside of themselves without Him. So next time someone asks you why there is bad in the world if Jesus is so powerful or how good people can exist without Jesus simply tell them this- There is an invitation from Heaven for God's children to sit at the table with Truth. It is at the table they will find Jesus, He has all the answers they have been searching for and He is ready share His guidance and Love with their simple yes, just come hungry, He loves to feed His children.