Knowing The Truth – Part 3
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
In the last part of the verse above, Jesus says, “… take heart! I have overcome the world.” What did Jesus mean by that? The Bible tells us in John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” God sent His only Son, Jesus to the world to die on the cross for the forgiveness of our sin. Therefore, His death was a triumph and a victory, and thereafter, He resurrected from and ascended into heaven to prepare a place for us.
Why must Jesus die for our sins? We believe that when God created the first man and woman – they are called Adam and Eve. Because of their disobedience, they have sinned against God. From then on, all humans after them will carry this sin in them. Think about it, why are we humans often inclined to doing evil? Do you need to teach your child to lie? Why do we easily do what is not right? This is because the fallen nature is already in us when we are born. This has separated us from God in heaven. We humans have always tried to do what we can to reach the gods, be it sacrifices, meditation, worshiping or even doing charity. But the Bible tells us that for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We cannot reach God through the things we do. We need a sacrifice of blood in order to save us from the fullness of our sins. Jesus is that sacrifice. Today, the act of atonement is done. To reach God, we simply need to sincerely believe in our hearts that Jesus Christ came to die on the cross for us, and to confess that we accept Him as our God. By also asking forgiveness for our sins, He will forgive us – no more no less, without condemnation. Through His death, and subsequent resurrection, He overcame what was inevitable. This gives us hope in our times of despair, along with the ultimate comfort that when we leave this earth, we have the hope of being with Him in heaven.
What better assurance is there than knowing where you are going from here, and even better, who you are going to?