Why a relationship with God is essential
Hope for a better future: thinking differently
What is your hope for the future? We live in a world of instability and transient relationships. This can greatly affect how we feel about our lives, the future and what we realistically hope for.
The hope that God promises is eternal life on this earth after Jesus has returned and transformed it. However, God requires us to have a relationship with Him and His son, Jesus. Consider the following,
“Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.”
Acts 3:19-21
God requires us to “repent” or to “think differently” and have our sins removed. Jesus said that obtaining eternal life, the hope that God has promised, is dependent on us “knowing” or having a relationship with God and Jesus:
“And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”
John 17:3
A relationship with God: God to dwell with humankind
We live in a time where we have access to so much information. We know about environmental and climate issues, political unrest and wars, diseases and pandemics, as well as issues of poverty, homelessness, abuse, addictions and physical and mental well-being.
The God of the Bible addresses all of these problems that plague humankind. God has a plan and purpose for this earth. He says He will dwell with His creation and there will be no more death, pain and suffering, but we need to have a relationship with Him,
“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Revelation 21:3-4
God is accessible to all of us
God is accessible to all of us. In fact, He is not very far from us, but He does require that we seek Him out.
“The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us…”
Acts 17:24-27
Jesus makes it very clear that God is accessible to all of us, but only through him (Jesus). In John 10:1-18, Jesus says,
- He is the door by which we (the sheep) must approach God, the Father.
- Anyone who attempts to access the Father without Jesus, is not of God’s people (the sheep).
- Jesus is the true shepherd of the sheep (God’s people).
- Those who approach the Father through Jesus are God’s people (the sheep) and will be saved.
- Jesus laid down his life for the sheep (God’s people).
A relationship with God is essential!
God created the earth to be inhabited (Isaiah 45:18). He wants us to call him “Father”, which implies a close relationship with Him. Our Father has provided His son, the Lord Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for our sins providing a way for us to repent and be forgiven. It is only through Jesus that we can approach the Father and have access to the glorious hope and a wonderful future on this earth that the Father has promised. This is why a relationship with God is essential and yet, God, the creator of all things is accessible to all of us through Jesus Christ, His son!
Article by Dale. Photo by Carl Hunley Jr. (unsplash.com).
