Why do we need Jesus? It’s the question of the ages. Here’s the scoop.

3 The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

I can think of three reasons why we need Jesus. They are:

1. God is our Creator and He desires a personal relationship with us.
2. Satan wants to kill us and has blinded us to the truth about God.
3. We are in rebellion against God, and to continue to live in our rebellion will eventually destroy us–both on this earth and in eternity.

Picture yourself as a soldier in the army. One day, a civilian comes up to you and begins to tell you about the “enemy,” that He’s not really our enemy and that His side is the right side. It sounds like treason, but something inside you urges you to believe this civilian. In your bed that night, you realize that what he told you is true–you are on the wrong side of the war! The next day, you seek out the civilian and ask what to do. He has you wait right there while he goes and gets Someone. When he comes back, he introduces you to your Guide (the Holy Spirit). He will be the One to lead you out of enemy territory and to safety.

Along the way, the Guide prepares you for your new home. He asks you to do certain things. Would you:

1. Change out of your old uniform into the clothes He has for you (Romans 13:14, Galatians 3:27, Ephesians 4:24, Colossians 3:10, Revelation 21:2)?
2. Change your old soldier’s vocabulary for a new way of talking (Ephesians 4:29, 5:4)?
3. Stay away from places that pull you back toward the other side (Proverbs 22:5)?
4. Read any material about your new home and family (Colossians 3:16)?
5. Trust whoever He tells you to trust (Ephesians 4:11-12)?
6. Practice whatever He teaches you (Philippians 4:8-9)?
7. Share with others about this new home of yours Matthew 10:8, 28:19-20*?

This story pretty much describes us. Now, the question is, will you trust Him to guide you home to the Father in heaven? Do you really believe that this story is ours? that He will ask us to do “certain things?” I hope so.

Abba, You are my Guide as I sojourn through this foreign land. I no longer belong to the enemy, but to You. I am Your child. Thank You for the Holy Spirit of Jesus in me to lead me home. I trust You in all of these “certain things.” Amen.

Then, at last, when on high He sees us, our journey done,
We will rest where the steps of Jesus end at His throne.
Footsteps of Jesus that make the pathway glow,
We will follow the steps of Jesus where’er they go.

*“Therefore, GO.” The word simply means, “to go.” The implication is that as we go, we go with the intention of making disciples. The “of all nations” is both a call to go to all nations as God leads each individual and to not neglect anyone regardless of what nation he is from. We must remember that many people were in Jerusalem for the coming Pentecost celebration. In fact, there is a list in Acts 2:9-11. Jesus was including all nations in His commission. Where did the disciples go after hearing this commission? Back to Jerusalem to await the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4). After that, it was for every person to return to his homeland taking the Gospel with them (Acts 8:1). Eventually, all Christians left Jerusalem and took the Gospel with them. In fact, we are Christians today because others were faithful to make disciples “as they went.”