The one who has the Son has eternal life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have eternal life. (1 John 5:12,AFV)
Jesus Is My Friend
The people who have the Son have eternal life. Those who do not have the Son of God do not have eternal life.” (1 John 5:12) [my paraphrase]
There was a day about two years ago when my life was in a terrible crises of grief, anger, and hopelessness. I had been a Christian for years and realized I had never known how to be a friend of God. It bothered me a lot because I felt like I was in some kind of Religious Jail, just going through the motions prescribed for me by others.
One day I went to my favorite sandy beach area on the Athabasca River. In frustration and with tears I cried out to the Creator that I wanted to know what He thinks of me. How do I know for sure who He is and what He thinks of me?
I ended up writing something in the sand, scratching out in 3 foot high letters “I am the one Jesus loves.” After all, this is what all my “churchy friends” kept saying to me. But they would never be able to tell me more.
I didn’t realize it at the time but this day was the start of a true friendship with Jesus. When I scrawled those letters in the sand that was actually my prayer. I really wanted to belong to Jesus. To know Him personally as a Friend.
Now, I like to tell people about my friendship with our Creator. In the verse that I quote at the top of this article it says “if we HAVE the Son then we have [eternal] life.
The best way I can describe what this means is by my own experience. Maybe I could just point out the main idea from the human realm of our experience?
When I tell you that I HAVE a friend, what exactly do I mean by that? What does it mean for us to HAVE a friend, to HAVE a spouse, to HAVE a sibling, a parent, or other loved ones?
In our human relationships that we all HAVE the answer to the question is simple. If I say I have a friend, then of course I talk with them, they talk with me, and we go places and do things together. That is generally what we all mean when we say we HAVE.
For me, when I say I HAVE a friend in Jesus, it simply means that I talk to Him, Jesus talks to me, and my friend Jesus even wants for us to go places and do things together.
When I speak to my friend Jesus, it is often through prayer. When Jesus speaks to me it is often through His Word in The Book of Heaven.
I have been finding that when my Friend Jesus and I go places and do things together that things really happen. Someone who helped introduced me to my Heavenly Friend who was also “going places and doing things together with Jesus” came to me in my hour of urgent need.
I was on my death bed. Dying of the miseries caused by massive burns in a house fire. The fire was caused because of drug addiction and other problems. That night on my hospital bed a nurse came up to me, took my hand and quietly said “David, I’m going to stay right here with you until you are not afraid.”
I have grown to believe that was the day when it started to dawn on me, my Friend Jesus was right there, His hands through the nurses hands. And now I live with purpose, recovery, and strength. Now I can be that same friend to others. I am no longer in that Religious Jail.
To have Jesus as a Friend means to me that no matter how many injuries scars or griefs I have, I can always talk to Him. Jesus always talks to me. And we go places and do things together.
Being Friends with Jesus is THE hope that pulls me closer. Sets my spirit free. My hope has a NAME and I would love to see you all also have THAT hope.
Today, my prayer for you is simple. I pray that
” your eyes [be] focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for Christians, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!” (Eph 1:18-19, MSG)
If you too want to HAVE Jesus, you can. Ask Him just now to come into your heart. To be in your life. To be your one true Friend who will never forsake you. (Heb 13:5)
Do you HAVE Jesus, today?
The Invitation
Your life may be filled with tears, fears, or sins, but do not despair. Jesus loves you so much, that He died for you; and now He is risen; and now Jesus lives for you! (John 11:25, Heb.7:25). Even though troubles may surround you and fill you, God has still given you the power of choice. He invites you in Joshua 24:15,
“…Choose ye this day whom ye will serve.”
Who am I when all seems so dark and scary, and there is seemingly no hope?
“I am the one that Jesus loves.”
Its about the cross. The cross is the only thing that levels the playing field for us all. The cross is exactly how Jesus makes all things right.
“that He might be JUST and the JUSTIFIER of all who believe in Jesus” (Rom 3:26) PTL.
This is what will apply also to all who wonder “where was/is God?” The cross closes up the distance.
“all who are afar off are made near by the blood of Christ.” (Eph 2:13)
Christ declares, “I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” If the cross does not find an influence in its favor, it creates an influence. Through generation succeeding generation, the truth for this time is revealed as present truth. Christ on the cross was the medium whereby mercy and truth met together, and righteousness and peace kissed each other. This is the means that is to move the world! {6BC 1113.5}
“I am the one Jesus loves.”
This is our identity in Christ. The cross is our proof. The cross is our doctrine. The cross is our warning. The cross is my hope in every situation. (Gal 6:14)
Come Unto Me
(Mat 11:28)
Do hurts of this world; cares of your life
Crush the heart’s hope; pierce like a knife?
The Savior still speaks surely to thee:
‘If ye so labor, come unto Me.’
Families break up, by death do we part
Temptations assault, sinking the heart.
The Savior still speaks surely to thee:
‘If ye so labor, Come unto Me.’
The hurting soul says ‘Can’t come at all!’
As they toss and turn against His call.
The Savior still speaks surely to thee:
‘If ye so labor, Come unto Me.’
Are you dark or lonely, do you sadly frown?
Are you sick or fearful, or lonely or down?
The Savior still speaks surely to thee:
‘If ye so labor, Come unto Me.’
You’re mad or glad, or rich or poor?
You can’t resist some evil lure?
The Savior still speaks surely to thee:
‘If ye so labor, Come unto Me.’
The story of your life may be Galilee
Raging turmoil, no hope you see.
The Savior still speaks surely to thee:
‘If ye so labor, Come unto Me.’
Come unto Jesus; and “rest” you’ll find
Whenever a burden shall tie or bind
Your Savior still speaks surely to thee:
‘If ye so labor, Come unto Me.’
– by David T Battler