Christmas was over a month ago. We were a little late putting our tree up this year, 23 December, but we did get there. Perhaps we will leave it up until February as it adds so much colour to the room. When we take the tree down the room looks very bland.
It’s a bit like the tree in our garden I shared about a couple of weeks ago, stunning hot pink flowers and fresh green leaves in the summer, and then in winter - just plain brown branches.
That thought leads me to a question, what brings colour into your life? What brings joy into your life?
What dulls the colour in your life?
Or what about these questions, what dulls the colour in your life? What steals your joy?
Ken and I were recently reflecting on our almost 26 years of marriage, talking about the many times we have faced battles that have come to not only steal our joy but to steal our marriage and our family - the physical health battles; mental health battles; financial battles and relationship battles.
We know that Jesus tells us in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;"
The Thief comes to steal
And we know that reading something and thinking that we understand it, is very different from the reality of living it!
Ken and I have no doubts about why we are still “standing” today. We have a hope in someone so much greater than ourselves.
A hope in Jesus Christ and faith to believe His words in the second part of John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Jesus comes to give us life
Life. Over the years, especially with the journey with our daughter and cancer, my understanding of that word ‘life’ has changed. Often we are so focused on our life right here, right now. But God tells us in James 4:14 that our life here is fleeting,
“But you don’t have a clue what tomorrow may bring. For your fleeting life is but a warm breath of air that is visible in the cold only for a moment and then vanishes!” James 4:14 TPT
Life on earth is fleeting
What we experience here today on earth is only one part of our life - the fleeting part of our life, perhaps even the dull part of our life when one considers eternity. The apostle Paul knew and understood this well. While in prison he wrote to the Philippians, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:13 NIV.
Life here on earth is not the end game! There is more. Heaven. Eternal life.
There is more
If you are interested in finding out some more about Heaven, I can highly recommend this book that a friend gave me some years ago, Imagine Heaven - Near-Death Experiences. God’s promises, and the exhilarating future that awaits you, written by John Burke.
Our access to eternal life is faith in Jesus Christ, as Romans 6:23 tells us,
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
I don’t know what is happening in your life right now, but I do know that there is a God in Heaven who loves you. I know that life here has many challenges and we face many battles.
But I also know this, as a person who has been living with faith in Jesus Christ for 28 years, Jesus is our only hope for living life to the full both here on earth and for eternity. There is no other way.
“This is the true testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life has its source in his Son. Whoever has the Son has eternal life; whoever does not have the Son does not possess eternal life.” 1 John 5:11-13 TPT
Jesus brings the colour into my life
Jesus brings the colour into my life - now and forever.
He can do the same for you if you choose to receive Him as your Lord and Saviour. If you want to do this now, please pray this prayer* with me:
Father,
You loved the world so much that You gave Your only begotten Son to die for our sins so that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
Your Word says we are saved by grace through faith as a gift from You. There is nothing we can do to earn salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9).
I believe and confess with my mouth that Jesus Christ is Your Son, the Saviour of the world (Romans 10:9). I believe He died on the cross for me and bore all of my sins (1 Peter 2:24), paying the price for me (Isaiah 53).
I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead and that He is alive today.
I am a sinner and I am sorry for my sins and I ask You to forgive me. By faith I receive Jesus Christ now as my Lord and Saviour. I believe that I am saved and will spend eternity with You! Thank You, Father. I am so grateful! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Next steps
If you prayed this prayer for the first time, I encourage you to do three things:
- Start reading God’s Word (The Bible) today. The book of Matthew is a great place to start.
- Find a local Bible-based church and commit to attending each week, so you can grow in your faith, be encouraged and encourage others, and learn more about the purpose God has for you on earth.
- Tell a family member or friend about the decision you have made today to receive Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. I pray that they will rejoice with you and encourage you.
*This prayer is based on a prayer in The Everyday Life Bible.
Looking for more encouragement?
Are you looking for more resources to help you draw closer to God, please check out my other blog posts and podcasts.
