John 12:24: “Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over.” (MSG)
THE PRELUDE
I watch people walk past me every day. On the surface they look fine, but their eyes tell the truth: there’s emptiness there. They’re carrying worries, heading nowhere, battling private pain that nobody sees. They laugh so no one hears them crying inside. They move from one fear to the next, chasing broken dreams.
But at the end of all that emptiness, there’s still one open door that they seem not to see, or ignore: He is Jesus. That’s the real need!
People don’t need more religion or performance. People need the Lord Jesus Christ. And the question is, when will they actually see it and respond?
Today it is not out of place to find people sitting right beside us in church every fellowship day, looking like they belong, singing, praying, going through the motions of a Spirit-filled worship. But if you look closer, through the eyes of the Spirit, you’ll see it: they’re hurting, weighed down, acting like everything’s okay while slowly falling apart inside. They feel the emptiness inside but wonder why religion cannot fill it up. God’s heart breaks for them, and so must ours, too, because no amount of church activity can fix what only Jesus Christ can heal in their lives. The door to God’s heart is still open, but do they notice it? Jesus Christ still calls, but can they hear Him? Will they ever come to realize before it’s too late that they don’t need more programs, that all they need is the Lord?
Matt 11:28: “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.'” NLT
Matt 11:29: “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls.” NLT
Sunday clothes, Sunday smiles, Sunday answers, but Monday morning the emptiness is still there. A prayer said over and over with a forced assurance, albeit without the new birth experience, is just another smoke screen. Only genuine regeneration removes the weight of Christlessness in the heart.
John 3:3: “Jesus replied, ‘I assure you, unless you are born again, you can never see the Kingdom of God.'” NLT
Looking fine on the outside is often a smoke screen for the emptiness on the inside. People are afraid to admit their emptiness and Christlessness. They want to belong where grace has not yet placed them; they want the peace of God but they will not have it at the prescribed price of death to self and alive to Christ!
Rom 6:11: “So you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Christ Jesus.” NLT
Rom 6:12: “Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to its lustful desires.” NLT
They may say the prayer, raise the hand, answer the altar call… but unless they’re ready to die to self, the emptiness will still be there because a smoke screen experience can’t fill what only the new birth can.
To Be Continued