This week’s article was submitted in January 2004, but I felt it was worth repeating. May you be encouraged.
In Matthew 16:13-20, we find Jesus in a discourse with his disciples concerning his identity. He asks this question in verse 13: “whom do men say that I the Son of man am?” It is fairly easy to give a general answer to a general question, and they give this answer in verse 14: “And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias: and others, Jeremias or one of the prophets.” After their answer, Jesus asked a more personal question that required a personal, individual answer. In verse 15, he asks this: “But whom say ye that I am?” Now in verse 16, Simon Peter steps up and gives his answer without hesitation: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Of all the questions that have ever been asked, I guess that is one of the most important. Just who is Jesus Christ? I’m not asking, who do others think he is, but who is he to you personally? Every individual reading this article and those who won’t, are required to make a personal response to this question. Your answer determines where you will spend eternity. Either Jesus is who he says he is, and who Peter acknowledged, or he is the greatest fraud of all the ages. Each individual must answer that question for themselves, and it doesn’t matter what others think. It cannot be answered for you by anyone else. Heaven or hell hangs in the balances. Eternity stretches its long fingers toward you. The angels are leaning over the balconies of heaven, straining to hear your answer. Jesus gives us some help in determining the answer. He says in John 5:39, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify of me.” Now read very carefully the next verse, “And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” Jesus is life, and without him there is no life. Read these wonderful words in John 14:5, 6 “Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
If the Bible is true, and I am convinced that it is the very word of God, then I have nothing to lose and everything to gain, including heaven. On the other hand, those who refuse to believe it, and reject its message, have all eternity to regret it.
I just ask you today to consider what Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29. Take my yoke upon you, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest for your souls, 30. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Who is Jesus Christ to you? Be sure your right, because after death, there are no second chances!