I've worked hard for a life that is happy and meaningful. Why do I still feel empty?
I always thought that if I had fun, friends, money, and was successful in my job, that I'd feel happy and fulfilled….. But I don't.
Why?
A fulfilling, meaningful life begins with God! Jesus says in John 10:10, "My purpose is to give life in all its fullness." The Apostle Paul says in Galatians 5:22-23, "When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."
According to the Bible, look at what God offers you:
Love - Someone who cares about you
Security - Someone who cares about what happens to you
Peace - Someone who cares about your problems
Purpose - Someone who cares about whether your life counts
Eternal Destiny - Someone who cares about your future
However, we are separated from God because of our sin.
The Bible says, "All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God's paths to follow our own . . ." (Isaiah 53:6).
And Isaiah 59:2 says, "There is a problem--your sins have cut you off from God. Because of your sin, he has turned away and will not listen anymore."
What is sin? According to the Bible, it is failure to be what God wants us to be and failure to do what God wants us to do. So as you can see, we've all sinned. We've all rebelled against God whether it was consciously or unconsciously. And the penalty of sin is death. God is righteous, so God must judge man's sin.
As long as we are separated from God, how can we be happy and enjoy life the way God wants us to?
Out of God's great love for us, he gave his perfect, spotless, sinless son, Jesus Christ to die for OUR sins.
"God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners" (Romans 5:8).
God is satisfied with what Jesus Christ has done. Now He can forgive us and offer us a joyful, meaningful life with Him. Through the death of Jesus Christ, the barrier of sin has been removed.
But you have to take the first step.
The Bible tells us, "Jesus told him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me' (John 14:6).
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31).
"Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us" (Romans 5:1).
What is faith?
You are demonstrating faith when you depend on a doctor, trust in a lawyer, or believe in a friend. So faith in Jesus is us trusting Him to forgive your sins and to bring you into a right relationship with God.
If you want to meet Jesus right now, pray something like this:
"Dear Father, I need You. I know that I'm a sinner. I thank You that You have forgiven my sins because Jesus died for my sins. I'd like to ask Christ to take His rightful place on the throne of my life. I'd like to start a new and meaningful life with You today. Amen."
To fully realize the kind of happy and meaningful life you desire, you need to grow in Christ. This is accomplished by reading the Bible (1 Peter 2:2), by praying daily (Philippians 4: 6-7), and by meeting others who have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ in a church where the Bible is taught (Hebrews 10:25).
Click here to email Pastor Johnny Ray at Family Life Church. We'll be happy to welcome you to our church home and offer fellowship, discipleship and answers to your questions
