Hope for the Nations

I just finished an amazing course that was 6 days long, 9am to 5pm.  Never once did I fall asleep in this course.  In fact, I was on the edge of my seat, taking notes, excited to share ideas and questions during the discussion time, eager to read the homework readings, and feeling pumped after the course to become a future facilitator of the same course.

So... what is this course that makes it so good? It's a course about God's heart for the world.

Ever since I became a Christian in grade 5, I wanted to share God's love and message to everyone.  Sometimes I really didn't know how to.  But I knew I wanted to do it.  Why?  Because this message is too good to be kept to myself.  It's like if you found the cure to cancer but you want to keep it to yourself.  Of course, it also depends on how I share, I cannot force people to change their minds.  But I really do want to share what God has done in my life.

Recently my friend Shelly, who has been an atheist most of her life, became a Christian.  She told me how she feels so at peace and feels much more grounded now that she has started her journey of faith.  This is just one of the examples of how God touches lives.

It's true that in the past, it seems like religion has done a lot of damage.  If we look at the wars, the judgmental discriminations, etc. it doesn't look pretty.  But the key word is: religion.  Religion is man-made.  Religion is a construct created by people to try to reach God or be good or do what they think is right.  However, if you read the Bible, you will realize that Jesus was not interested in religion.  He was interested in relationships.

Jesus even got mad at the religious leaders, saying that they were hypocrites and not truly following God.  Jesus wasn't trying to start a new religion.  He came to show us how to love and give us a way to have a relationship with God.  No longer do we have to try to be "good enough" to reach God, because none of us can ever be good enough.  But now, we can reach God through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, paying for our sins and wrongdoings so that we can be forgiven and have new life.

Jesus was controversial, because he went to parties and even invited all the "bad" people to eat with him.  Jesus crossed boundaries, talked with a Samaritan woman whom normally the Jewish people wouldn't want to talk to.

If we really took a good look at Jesus in the Bible we will realize that he is not like anyone else in history.  He had a heart for people.

He said, "I have come so that you may have life, and life to the full."

I want that abundant life.  I have already tasted it and I want it for my friends.

This abundant life in Christ and the desire for others to have it... that's what drives missionaries to go to hard places in the world, leave a comfortable home, leave family and friends, in order to do mission work like translate the Bible in new languages, serve among the poor and sick...

I mean back in the old days, there were missionaries who packed their belongings to go the heart of Africa.  What did they pack their stuff in? A coffin.  They were willing to die there.  And many of them did.  Some of them died only after 2 years of service in those jungles, because they caught malaria.  But others came to take their place and their work was not in vain.

These are stories you don't hear about.  The good work that missionaries do.  You only hear about the horrible wars that the "Christians" fought.  I mean, were those even real Christians?  They totally misinterpreted the Bible or didn't even read it before killing the Muslims.  God tells us to love and share His message to the Muslims, not kill them.

Some people will say that you can be good without God.  In a way, they are right.  You don't have to believe in God to be good.  But I believe that the morals we have in our hearts were first placed in there by God our creator.  Because if there was no God there is no point in being good.  Because even if you live a good life everyone is going to die anyway in the end so what's the point.  If there is an afterlife however, then what you do in this life matters for eternity.

I could go on and on, but these are just my thoughts.  Please know that I don't mean to offend anyone by talking about this, I just want to share what's on my heart.  You can feel free to disagree or discuss with me more.  I love you all and I do want you to experience the joy I feel , the joy I found in God, but that is up to you.  I am only a messenger.

Here is a song I learned, I feel it summarizes what Jesus means to me