What If Jesus Had Never Come?
by Don Hooton
I cannot imagine trying to make it through life without having “the good shepherd” (John 10:11), who is the “one mediator between God and men” (1 Timothy 2:5) and the “King of kings and Lord of lords” (Revelation 19:16) in my corner. But what if – What if Jesus had never even come into this world “to give his life a ransom” (Mark 10:45)?
A life without true meaning. Jesus came that we might have life, and that we might have it more abundantly (John 10:10). Paul said we “can do all things” through Him (Philippians 4:13). The whole of man is to fear the Lord and keep His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13). An abundant, can-do, wholeness is what Jesus brings to those who seek it.
A life without a totally reliable model to imitate. Role Models are all around us – many of them worthy of imitation because they demonstrate selflessness, commitment, and respect. Yet no human in this life is a good example in every way all of the time. We have all made mistakes. “All have sinned” (Romans 3:23). But not Jesus. He “did no sin,” and that is why He alone is worthy of complete imitation (1Peter 2:21-22).
A life without direction. Where am I going in my life? Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). When lights breaks the dawn of a new day, we should be reminded of the vision of this truth that indeed Jesus lights the way in life to the eternal goal.
Life without salvation. The wages of sin is death and will separate a person from God (Romans 6:23; Isaiah 59:1-2). Thank God that He loved us so much that He sent Jesus “into the world to save sinners” (1Timothy 1:15; Ephesians 1:7). Because Jesus is the only Savior – the only “name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12) – we are, without Him, still lost and still drowning in the guilt of our sins.
A life without hope. Misery is what fills the heart that is void of hope. Jesus is the hope of the world (1 Timothy 1:1). Through Jesus we can live “in hope of eternal life” (Titus 1:2). So what fill the empty heart with anything that will can only satisfy for the moment when you can fill your heart with the hope which will never be taken away (Romans 5:1-6).
The choice is ours; we can either live life with Him or without Him. So, choose wisely because our eternal destiny is in the balance – and our present joy too. To live with Him, of course, means to live according to His will.
So live your life because He has come – because indeed, He is coming again (John 14:1-3).