Communication

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The Wrong Jesus

Every where I look, I see the lost. I see pain, suffering, and sin. When I got to work this morning I was told that a good friend /co-worker had passed away Saturday. We all knew it was going to happen, and soon. He had cancer for the past year and was sent home from the hospital just last Monday. Hospice was called in to make him comfortable. There was no more the doctors could do. Death was at his doorstep.

I tried to witness to him just a few short months ago. He was in remission for a time after his first rounds of chemo and had returned to work. The Holy Spirit impressed upon me that he needed Jesus, that time was short. I asked him to meet me at my car at lunch time. He seemed puzzled, but agreed. I told him about Jesus and what He has done in my life. Then I asked him if he knew Jesus as his Savior and if not, I would be happy to lead him in a prayer to accept Jesus into his heart. Tears formed in his eyes and he said he never knew so many people cared about him. Evidently, I was not the first to bring up the subject. Then he thanked me and told me he was okay, that he was going to beat this cancer. He didn’t say he was saved and I didn’t press him further. I just said; “Please, don’t wait too long. If you need to talk about it, please know I am here for you.” Again, he thanked me but seemed a little uncomfortable.

Now he’s dead. I don’t know if he was saved or not. God alone knows.

Now I am thinking maybe I approached him all wrong. Maybe we, as Christians are doing it wrong a lot of times. Sure, there is healing in God, sure there is peace and joy that passes all our human understanding! But are we giving them the full picture? Are we telling the whole story?

Look at the story of the woman at the well. Jesus told her everything she had ever done. He reminded her of her sin. He got right to the issue of her soul. Then he told her how to make it right again.

Remember the rich young man who asked Jesus about eternal life? How did Jesus respond to him? Did He say; “Receive me into your heart and I will give you eternal life?” No! He lovingly allowed him to see his own sin. The bible says Jesus looked at him and loved him. He knew this young man WAS a good person. But still, he was lacking. Even though the rich young man went away sorrowful, he was shown by God what he lacked. He rejected Christ because he had many possessions. He let his wealth come before Jesus and eternal life. Nothing can come before Jesus. Lost people need to understand this when the gospel is shared with them. This is not just a one time decision on their part – it’s becoming a brand new person! It’s a decision to follow Jesus every day for the rest of their life, come hell or high water. If they are not willing to do that, they may not last.

Jesus told the Pharisees they were hypocrites. That their father was the devil! Jesus was not a popular man by the un-repented of that day. He did not hold the bible up in His hand and say:
“Repeat after Me: This is my bible. I believe I am who it says I am and I can do what it says I can do.” (That’s Joel Osteen, a popular TV preacher). No, Jesus said “YOU can do NOTHING without ME.” He knew that if we just say we believe in Him; accept him into our heart and lives, it’s not enough. We are human and we will fall away. We cannot endure the temptations of the evil one without a true change of heart, without repentance, without the Holy Spirit taking up residence in our lives.

Without true repentance, there is no cleansing of sins.

Most people don’t think they need a Savior. If you ask ten people if they think they are a good person, every one of them will say Yes. They all think they are going to heaven because they are good people. They just cannot see what wretched sinners we all are compared to a Holy God. There is none righteous.

I think many churches are preaching the wrong Jesus, and the wrong Gospel. People need to wake up, to be confronted (lovingly) of their sins – over and over again – if that’s what it takes for true repentance. Our Pastors are preaching about things like: how to lose weight and take care of our bodies, or how to enjoy everyday life. It’s more the “Power of Positive Thinking” than it is the holy power of the gospel of Jesus Christ! I think if they all began preaching hell and brimstone again, we would see Revival take place in this nation.

People need to see that they have a need. They need to see themselves as wretched and lost – without hope in the world. Only then will they repent and accept true salvation in Jesus Christ. This is my belief.

Do you have the wrong Jesus? Do you have the “feel good all the time” Jesus or do you have the Jesus of the Bible? I challenge you to examine your heart to find out.

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