“You have the words of eternal life”

Why am I still a Christian?  Why haven’t I given up on my faith when I hurt most of the time?  For that matter, why does anyone believe in God after they look around and see the mess that it is this world.  When Satan was testing Job, Job’s wife encouraged Job to “curse God and die” (Job 2:9).  And some days, I’ll admit, it’s tempting.

But then, I return to a passage in John:  “From this time, many of his (Jesus’) disciples turned back and no longer followed him.  You do not want to leave too, do you?”  Jesus asked the Twelve.  Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.  We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”  (John 6:66-69).

That’s the key – there is nowhere else to turn.  Jesus is the only one who has the “words of eternal life”.  He is the “Holy One of God”.  What more could we ask for?  Each world religion has it’s own appeal, but only Christianity offers Jesus as Savior – forgiveness for what we’ve done, a friend and comforter for today’s troubles, and the hope of eternal life.  It simply doesn’t get any better than this.  God Almighty reached down to love each of us individually.

When the others left Jesus, the Twelve recognized Jesus for what He was, the giver of life.  That’s what Jesus offers all of us.  But, he offers more than “fire insurance”, a “Get Out of Hell Free Card”.  Jesus offers us real life right now here on earth.  That’s why I’m still a believer.  Because Jesus and no one else has the words of eternal life – life that starts now.  Life that may still not be easy, but it’s worth living.  Life that’s full of God’s love – a love based on God’s actions, not our feelings.

“Lord, to whom shall I go?  You have the words of eternal life?”  Lord, I’ll go only to You.