What to do?

Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.

24 Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 26 Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” 28 [a]Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 [b]Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”-John20:24-29

Some say religion is outdated. Some say religion, with its old teachings and traditions, has no place in the 21st century with all its technology and progress. Some even say that God does not exist at all since He cannot be sensibly perceived - no more parting of the Red Sea, no more triumph over our enemies, no more walking in the water, no more calming of the storm, and so forth. Poor, poor souls. Faith is freely given to all. It is given to you and me. God connected and reached out to us, but what about us? What are we going to do with the gift of faith? Are we going to ignore it or embrace it? Do we really have to sensibly perceive and understand God first before believing? “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Image courtesy: God's Not Dead

Futuristic people

We are God's gift to Jesus.

20 “I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. 22 And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am[a] they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. 26 I made known to them your name and I will make it known,[b] that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.”-John17:20-26

Jesus specifically prays for us and for those yet to come. We belong to Him. We are God's gift to Jesus. And where Jesus is, there we must be. It is just so sad that despite this privilege of having a happy and fulfilling life with Him, some people walk away and prefer to live a life where they are in control - as if we can be in control (sic). As Jesus prays for us, we also should pray for one another that we are all finally one in walking towards our true home in Jesus. Earth will be a happy place to be in if we are all one with God.

Image courtesy: artist

If Only

If only we knew of disasters to come and the many things that could bring peace, we would have listened today.

41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”-Luke19:41-44

Jesus wept because He saw what will come ahead. The destruction of Jerusalem, the many men, women and children who will suffer and die, the loss of everything. Many will wish to have died earlier than see all the sufferings left and right. Jesus saw it all and wept for the people of Jerusalem on the day of its destruction.

We have experiences that we regretted. We have many sighs and tears of regret. We wished to go back to the past and change things, but it's just impossible. We have many "If only I have..." moments, but all is gone and lost. We cannot bring back the past. Then the blame game begins. But we can change forever our future by doing the will of God today. Why wait for the future to come if we can shape it as early as now?

Are there things that I need to change today? Are there things or people that I need to let go and sacrifice to avert disaster in the future?

Image courtesy: artist, Francesco Hayez (Destruction of Jerusalem)