Weekend, July 20, 2024

　　Why People Don’t Believe in Jesus

　　Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 NLT)

　　It has never been popular to say that Jesus Christ is the only way to God. And perhaps that statement has never been more controversial than it is today. But it is not for us to edit the message of the Bible. It is for us as Christians to simply deliver it.

　　Imagine if a doctor neglected to deliver bad news about test results because it might make the patient uncomfortable. That would be ridiculous. A doctor’s job is to diagnose the problem and then recommend a course of action. A doctor’s job is to save lives.

　　In the same way, we have to tell people the truth about their real condition before God and point them to Jesus Christ as the only solution. However, in our culture of moral relativism, this rubs a lot of people the wrong way.

　　But here’s what Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 NLT).

　　And Acts 4:12 says, “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved” (NLT).

　　Yet according to Christ Himself, the primary reason that people don’t believe in Him is they hate the light. They want to sin in the darkness, and so they stay away from the light so their sins won’t be exposed (see John 3:20).

　　If the cross of Calvary proves nothing else, it proves this: God loves humanity deeply. Why else would the Father send His Son to suffer and die?

　　Speaking to the prophet Ezekiel, God said, “I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live” (Ezekiel 33:11 NLT).

　　And 2 Peter 3:9 tells us, “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent” (NLT).

　　God longs for fellowship with us, for friendship with us. Isaiah 1:18 says, “ ‘Come now, let’s settle this,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool’ ” (NLT).

　　Going all the way back to the Garden of Eden, when our first parents ate the forbidden fruit, the voice of God was crying out, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9 NLT). That is God’s heart toward all of us. “Where are you? I love you.”

　　God is compassionate. God loves all of humanity. And God wants people to be saved. And if someone really is seeking the truth, they will find their way to Christ.

　　God says, “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me” (Jeremiah 29:13 NLT).

　　Let’s remember that God loves us, and God loves everyone. And as His children, we need to care about unbelievers and love them as well.

　　Copyright © 2024 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.

　　For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org

　　and

　　Listen to Greg Laurie's daily broadcast on OnePlace.com.

　　Watch Greg Laurie's weekly television broadcast on LightSource.com.

　　In thanks for your gift, you can receive a copy ofBen Born Again's New Believer's Growth Bookby Greg Laurie

　　Cartoon companions Ben Born Again and YellowDog teach kids how to read the Bible, how to pray, how to know the will of God, how to resist temptation, and much more in this engaging resource written for children. A copy will be sent to you for a gift of any amount to Harvest Ministries this month.

　　Click here to find out more!