RELIGION — Lets Talk About Jesus

BY RODNEY TILLEY, PASTOR VAN HORN COMMUNITY CHURCH

A good pastor friend of mine, Pastor H, from Philadelphia, recently paid the ultimate sacrifice for living in the inner city and ministering in a church there.

He lost his lovely young daughter to a homicidal accident and it did not make any sense at all to me. I was left with wondering, “Why?”  Later after her funeral, as we were talking, he made the statement, “I do not know what I would do without Jesus.” He was still talking of the comfort and peace he felt, even in the midst of turmoil and chaos. But I must admit I was having my doubts as I tried to figure it all out. 

It started me thinking but in an opposite way, for I took the sentence and asked myself the same question but answered in the negative instead of the positive. In my mind, I began to make a list of things I would do if I did not know Jesus as my Lord and my God. 

•I would worry a lot and spend sleepless nights trying to understand our world.

•I would fear death and never attend funerals again, for they would remind me of only of my frailty.

•I would trust no one and would be constantly looking over my shoulder for some hint of danger. 

•I would suspect all of my friends of ulterior motives, for they had disappointed me too many times in the past. 

•I would be angry at life for its many ups and downs.

•I would be depressed from anger and bitterness.

•I would seek to be entertained to be happy, for I would possess no happiness from within.

•I would become addicted, for that lack of happiness would lead me to seek happiness elsewhere.

•I would try to believe only in me, and I would disappoint myself.

In fact, if I did not have Jesus in my life, I would be miserable and would hate myself for having been born. But today, we can, I can, stand with my pastor friend and even in times of bitterness and despair know the joy and comfort of Christ’s presence.

 Jesus said, “This is a parting gift for you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left- feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught. (John 14:27). In fact later he tells us to be of “good cheer.” 

 So, Pastor H., “What would any of us do without Jesus?’ I guess not much of anything good, and thanks for reminding us again. For more information on this “peace” please call: Pastor Tilley at 432-207-0015.