Why Jesus?ናሙና

Why Not?

When someone offers us a present, we can either accept it, open it, and enjoy it; or else we can say, ‘No thank you.’ Sadly, many people make excuses for not accepting the gift that God offers—forgiveness, freedom, and his Spirit to live within us. 

Here are some of the excuses: 

a) ‘I have no need of God’ 

When people say this, they usually mean that they are quite happy without God. What they fail to realise is that our greatest need is not ‘happiness’ but ‘forgiveness.’

Either we accept what Jesus has done for us on the cross, or else one day we will pay the just penalty ourselves for the things we have done wrong. 

b) ‘There is too much to give up’ 

Sometimes, God puts his finger on something in our lives which we know is wrong and which we would have to give up if we want to enjoy this relationship with God through Jesus. 

But we need to remember: 

• God loves us. He asks us only to give up things that do us harm. 
• What we give up is nothing compared to what we receive. The cost of not      becoming a Christian is far greater than the cost of becoming a Christian.     
• What we give up is nothing compared to what Jesus gave up when he died on the cross for us. 

c) ‘There must be a trap’ 

Understandably, people often find it hard to accept that there is anything free in this life. However, what they fail to realise is that although it is free for us, it was not free for Jesus. He paid for it with his own blood. 

d) ‘I’m not good enough’ 

None of us is good enough. But that is why Jesus came. He made it possible for God to accept us just as we are. 

e) ‘I could never keep it up’ 

We are right to think that we could never keep it up by ourselves, but the Spirit of God, who comes to live within us, gives us the power and the strength to keep going. 

f) ‘I’ll do it later’ 

This is perhaps the most common excuse. Sometimes people say, ‘I know it’s true but I’m not ready.’ The longer we put it off, the harder it becomes and the more we miss out. We never know whether we will get another opportunity.