Articles
I Want the Perfect Life
When you look at the beginnings of the church found in the book of Acts what do you see? Do you see people whose problems all go away? Do you see people getting everything that they have every wanted in life? Do you see people who no longer have any problems? There are those that think this is the way Christianity works. People have even taught these kinds of ideas. What does the bible actually teach?
Christianity starts with Jesus being put to death on the cross. Peter and James are arrested for the first time in Acts chapter four. All the apostles are arrested twice in Acts chapter five. A man named Stephen was taken by a mob to stand trial and then taken out and stoned to death in Acts chapter seven. These events lead up to a widespread persecution of the church. “On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.” (Acts 8:1b-3)
From the worlds perspective the picture of the early church makes no sense. Why would anyone want to become a Christian? And yet the bible clearly tells us that people were flocking to the church. “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. … And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:42, 47b)
The power is in the message that the apostles were teaching, the message that Jesus taught them. The word of God teaches us how to live now. The bible shows us God’s salvation for man and the promise of eternal life in heaven. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is a powerful message that has given hope to millions. There will be a day when all will be made perfect, when there will be no more pain or suffering. ”And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4) God never promises us that this life will be perfect but he does give us what we need to equip us to the live our best life. ~Brad Tolbert
