Are We Asking the Right Questions?
“Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you.”
(The First Letter of John 3: 13 NASB)
If we read this single verse and walk away, we may scratch our heads, wondering ‘WHY’ does the world in which we live—hate us. We may even find ourselves truthfully admitting, “I don’t think I desire to be hated.” Nevertheless, the TRUTH is the TRUTH, and only within God’s Word can we discover TRUTH, for we were created and born with an unquenchable hunger to know God.
This is the Truth!
We know so because the Bible proclaims it so!
“Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you.
(The First Letter of John 3: 13-20 NASB)
[Why, we ask]
We know that we have passed out of death into life,
because we love the brethren.
He who does not love abides in death.
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer;
and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
We know love by this,
that He laid down His life for us;”
[Jesus Christ, the Son of God—died on the cross for mankind.]
[Jesus Christ, the Savior—arose from the grave.]
[Jesus Christ, the Redeemer—made the way possible to be saved, to know God.]
[Jesus Christ, the Messiah—IS ALIVE—so that we too may LIVE!]
“and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him,
how does the love of God abide in him?
Little children,
let us not love with word or with tongue,
but in deed and truth.
We will know by this that we are of the truth,
and will assure our heart before Him
in whatever our heart condemns us;
for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.”
Truly, no one wants to live in a world without Easter. Humanity longs for the TRUTH found in the promise of the Resurrection of Jesus. Even those who do not yet know Jesus as Lord still innately are drawn to the love of God, a love that would send His only Son to provide the only way to know HIM as LORD.
In my career, I have been known to ask a few questions. If you know me, then go ahead and laugh now, as you smile and think: ‘Yep, Nancy, you are a woman full of questions.’ Nonetheless, I have discovered that in the asking (of the questions) one can discover the depth of the person (of the one being asked the questions).
Are We Asking the Right Questions?
We may ask—
- What are you hoping to do with your life?
- What is your major area of study?
- What sport do you play?
- Where do you call home?
- From what size of family do you come?
- Who led you to be here, to choose this university, a Christian University?
Then, once we have built a relationship, we begin asking the right questions.
We may ask—
- Who have you encountered who has changed your life in a positive way?
- Have you heard of the man Jesus? AND
- Would you like to know?
- Do you have a need that I could help you with today?
- Do you know God loves you?
- Do you know God sent Jesus to die for you?
- Have you heard the truth of Easter & the Resurrection?
- Would you like to know more today?
- Have you ever experienced the love of God in your life?
- Do you believe in a man named Jesus?
- Do you know Jesus died for you?
- Are you a Christian? OR
- Are you still trying to think about this?
These are the important questions we ought to be asking!
Truly, humanity longs for the TRUTH found in the promise of the Savior Jesus.
This is the Truth!
We know so because the Bible proclaims it so!
“Now if Christ is preached,
(The First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians 15: 12-22 NASB)
that He has been raised from the dead,
how do some among you say there is no resurrection of the dead?
But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised;
and if Christ has not been raised,
then our preaching is vain,
your faith also is vain.
Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God,
because we testified against God that He raised Christ,
whom He did not raise,
if in fact the dead are not raised.
For if the dead are not raised,
not even Christ has been raised;
and if Christ has not been raised,
your faith is worthless;
you are still in your sins.
Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
If we have hoped in Christ in this life only,
we are of all men most to be pitied.
But now Christ has been raised from the dead,
the first fruits of those who are asleep.
For since by a man came death,
by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die,
so also in Christ all will be made alive.”