a l i v e & a w a k e

There is good news for the person who faces the reality of their deficient life. No hiding. No covering. No deception - just an honest embrace of the truth. To that person, there is the hope of something completely and amazing happening to them.

We were all born with a root problem: We were designed to be God-like in nature, but found out upon arrival that we resembled (in our nature) something akin to the devil. We were selfish, greedy, proud, and liars. Although people have developed fantastic behaviour modification programs to help us deal with the consequential bad decisions, guilty feelings, negative reactions and frustration, they offer little use in restoring us to our full potential as humans. They can only mask our problems for a while.

Imagine that when you were born, you came as a wrecked car. Pretend further, that the built-in computer still worked and every day it reminded you of what you were supposed to be: a completely functional car who lived everyday in the fullness of your design and purpose.  Can you imagine the frustration and emptiness one would feel as a result? But there's more. Imagine even further that as wrecked cars, we are no use to our Maker (not "no value", just not useable). Without function we live in "anti-life" state.

That's what so many people are acutely aware of - their own frustrations, their lack of function and the fact that there is more to life that what they're experiencing. Well there is.

You see, although you were born that way, you don't have to stay that way. There is a way to find newness in life, and it's the same for all people. The universal problem has a universal answer. He name is Jesus.

Many people have their own opinion as to who He was or what He did, or what relevence He has today. And since you have to believe someone's idea, I will let Him speak for Himself.

"I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full." - Jesus- 

Could it be true? After all you've heard about this guy - could it be true, that He indeed is the source of life? He is to those who will give their lives to Him. And herein lies the main problem. We were born wrecked cars (something we can't change) and we stay wrecked cars (something we can change) because we don't want to have anything to do with Jesus. To some people, just the mention of His name is enough to make their blood boil. That response only reveals an already rebellious heart. If somehow we could simply deal with this heart issue (the inside), we would find a lot of life's issue (the outside) would be dealt with instantly.

How does this happen? How does someone "receive a new heart"? I call it the Great Exchange. You give up your life, and accept the life Jesus has to offer. It's a simple as that. Going back to the car illustration, imagine you are pushing your wrecked-car life around. As you head down the street a man suddenly approaches you. As you stop to talk he introduces himself as the owner of a Lamborghini dealership. And then he does the incredible: he offers to give you a brand new Lamborghini, as long as you give up your "car". Sound ridiculous? That's exactly what Jesus said when He walked the earth, Give me your life and I will give you mine.

Now that's good news. Why do people balk at such an offer? Why do people not believe this? I believe it's basically one of 2 reasons:

1. People don't believe Jesus is telling the truth, or

2. People don't believe that they can really change.

It's true. To accept this means you have to have a lot of faith. What is faith? Look for the next article called "Leap of Faith" for some answers.

Jon