Do cigarettes and matches always have to go together? Of course not, but some items have been joined together so frequently they become inseparable in our thinking! And so, curls = Shirley Temple; home runs = Babe Ruth; and the color red = Communism. But with each of these major designations many other names can also be associated. Think of all the names that can be connected with home runs: Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), and Willie Mays (660). The "Babe" whacked a career 714.
So, when a name or category is mentioned, we must be careful not to respond too hastily with an unnecessary and even unfair narrowness. And so it is with the name JESUS.
To you, does His Name provoke an unfavorable response? Perhaps the concepts of narrowness, Sunday School sissy, too unreal, good but not practical, old stuff, ideal but not real, extremism, puritanical, no fun, etc., etc. And because of this if I ask: Do you believe in Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord? You may not even hear the question but rather relate a host of false and narrow misconceptions or "uglies" with it.
The best thing to do, if this be the case, is to read the Bible. This Book has Jesus Christ as its principle subject. It's all about Him! Here's one sample out of thousands: "For it was in Him (Jesus) that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him.
And He Himself existed before all things, and in Him all things consist (cohere, are held together)" (Colossians 1:16-17). Jesus, being very God, made everything, is over all authorities (seen and unseen) and holds everything together. And so, molecules don't just go flying off however they wish.
Are these not astounding comments about Jesus, the Christ! He is the "fullness of the Godhead bodily."
So, what is the question? Do you know JESUS as your personal Lord and Savior? The Bible says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved." (Read the exciting story that leads up to this verse - Acts 16:25-34.) All that the above Scripture (the Colossians passage) says about Him should make us very serious about considering anything the Bible says about Him! Isn't all this suggestive of a most serious contemplation of Him? Read John's Gospel, the fourth Book in the New Testament to get the full story, accurate information and the invitation to know Him personally now!
dick d. christen
