Answers to essential questions

Thursday 3 June 2021

Answers to essential questions

Jesus answered them (to the Pharisees) : Even though I bear witness to myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going. When it comes to you, you don't know where I'm from or where I'm going. John 8:14

A famous painter, Paul Gauguin, titled a huge painting imbued with great pessimism : "Where Do We Come From ?" Who are we ? Where are we going ?" These three questions reflect the distress of the painter, but also that of many of our fellow human beings. What a difference with the affirmations of Jesus and also with the assurance of the Christian to follow his Master !

Jesus, God manifested in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16), that is, appearing as a human being, knows who he is : the Son of God. He knows where he comes from: from heaven, from the Father. He is the Eternal Present, before Abraham was, I AM (John 8:58). He knows where he is going: he will ascend to heaven to his God and Father after having accomplished the work of redemption.

Christians, like Jesus, know who they are, where they come from and where they are going.

Who he is : He is a child of God, loved by God, blessed by God. He knows he has eternal life, the life of Christ. The Holy Spirit dwells in him. This identity is a certainty which rests on the Bible and has its source in the grace of God.

Where He Comes From : He knows that God has been thinking of him from all eternity. He was elected before the foundation of the world in Christ (Ephesians 1: 4). Born into the world and descended from Adam, he knows he was a sinner far from God. It was in this condition of revolt against God that the Holy Spirit convicted him of sin. But he received God's forgiveness as soon as he accepted Jesus as Savior. It is a certainty which has its origin in the sovereign grace of God and which rests on the work of Christ.

Where he is going : The Child of God knows where he is going : in glory with Jesus his Savior. This certainty is based on the promises of God, recorded in his Word.

So the child of God can answer the questions of those around him by explaining what he is, where he came from and where he is going. He can show them the way that leads to God the Father through his Son, Jesus Christ. He knows the source of his certainties about his past, present and future.

Source (Pleasing the Lord)