Euangelion

I hate being sick. I hate not being able to do everything I want to because my body cannot give 100%. Being sick can be pretty awful, even scary at times, especially nowadays given the pandemic in which the world is being taken by storm. There are many different types of sickness, varying from a common cold, to genetic diseases or allergies, all the way to terminal illnesses. Bottom line is that sickness stinks.

There are many different ways to prevent from getting sick, like eating the right foods to keep your body healthy, always washing your hands, and getting on a good sleep schedule. We have modern medicine that helps us deal with sickness like pain killers, Tylenol, antibiotics, even Tums. We are given ways that make it easier to be sick, and sometimes even cure us entirely.

Unlike physical ailments, we do not have the choice in what cures the sickness of our soul. Sin is the disease that all of our hearts are born into. We all suffer from its symptoms even though we are constantly trying to escape its grasp. Jesus is the only one who can save us from this terminal disease. Jesus is the cure for our dying soul.

This past Sunday was Easter. The day that Jesus saved us from our own devices and broke the grip that death had on us. Easter was the day that Euangelion became real. Euangelion means “good news”. It is what is referred to as the Gospel.

The Gospel is the good news that Jesus has come to save us from eternal death and liberate us from sin’s grasp. As Christians this is the capital “T” truth, and especially with Easter around, we always find ourselves reminded to be more grateful for the gracious gift of the Gospel.

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” -Matthew 22:36-40

One of the biggest commands that Jesus gives us to follow is to love your neighbor as yourself. We are constantly told to be compassionate, pray for your enemies, and love because we were first loved. Now a perspective of this commandment I find myself always lacking in, is how I minister to non-believers.

There is an article that Tim Keller about college student’s perspectives on Christian evangelism, and a student says this,

“I have no respect for a Christian who doesn’t try to convert me, because a Christian who doesn’t try to convert me cannot be a good person because if you think you have a cure for my soul and you don’t share it with me, either you don’t love me or you don’t actually believe it”

Sometimes for me, the best thing to remind myself whenever I meet someone new, or even having an interaction with someone I do know, good or bad, is that they are a child of God, much like myself. I am no better than they are, and as a matter of fact, I am the worst sinner I know, because I know myself better than I know anyone else. If “Euangelion” (pronounced “yoo-ang-ghel-ee-on”) means that Jesus would being willing to die for a wretch like me and save me from my own sin, then He would absolutely have died for anyone else who is a child of the most high God. So why am I so slow, and scared even, to publicly rejoice that I have been cured and spread the good news? Do I not actually believe in His saving grace? Or do I just have a loving problem?

I know for a fact that I do have a loving problem. I tend to be quick to judge, slow to forgive, and hesitate to reach out when I am not comfortable at times. I also know that sometimes, I am also afraid that I may be persecuted for my faith, meaning that I do not put the importance of the good news as much as I should.

If I had a really bad back ache and I went to a chiropractor who worked wonders and fixed my back, I would not hesitate to recommend his practice to others. I know the pain of having back ache and I since I know how awful it is and I don’t want anyone to experience that then I would recommend the chiropractor to everyone because I know he does good work. The same thing applies to this as well.

There are three parts to sharing Euangelion. First, we need to understand the full deadly effect of sin in our lives and how we would not want anyone to have to eternally live with that burden. Secondly, we need to understand that we have the cure to our souls, and that is Christ alone. Lastly, we need to learn to love, to love other as children of God who equally, if not more than us, deserve this. Remember, we love because while we were dead in our trespasses, Christ loved us, so love strong.

Christ is risen. He died for us. He descended into hell for us; for everyone, not just you and me. He is the only cure for our heavy-laden souls so be quick to share the love of God and spread the Good News. Show the Zeal of Christ.

Why do we hesitate to share the good news sometimes?

What does the Gospel mean to you?

Do you think the Gospel is as important to you as it should be?

“Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” -Revelation 3:19-20

I still need you, father
Trusting in this great unknown
I still need you, mother
Comfort me until we’re home
I still need you, sister
Tell the truth and dare to dream
And I still need you, brother
Strengthen me and help me see
We all need each other-“Same Blood” Kings Kaleidoscope