WHY DO I NEED THE JESUS?

JUDGES 18:7-9: “So the five men departed and went to Laish. They saw the people who were there, how they dwelt safely, in the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and secure. There were no rulers in the land who might put them to shame for anything. They were far from the Sidonians, and they had no ties with anyone. Then the spies came back to their brethren at Zorah and Eshtaol, and their brethren said to them, “What is your report?” So they said, “Arise, let us go up against them. For we have seen the land, and indeed it is very good. Would you do nothing? Do not hesitate to go, and enter to possess the land.” NKJV

OBSERVATION: Why do I need Jesus? This is the question so many people ask. They are usually moral people who are living a peaceable and quiet life. They enjoy their activities on the lake or the golf course on Sunday. They are not hurting anyone and take solace in the fact that they are generally good people.

One can understand someone holding this position when you look at the church and the world. There is not much difference when you look at the two. Just as many people are getting divorced in the church as in the world. There are just as many people who are angry and bitter in the church as in the world. So, it is natural for someone to ask,

Why do I need Jesus?

The book of Judges gives us a picture of what the world is like without Jesus. Over and over again this statement is made as you read this book – “And they did what was right in their own eyes.” It is hard at times to read this book and see how far people can go without Jesus. The corruption, the pain, and the horrific acts that people will do against one another are hard to see.

Then we read the story about a settlement of people that are only mentioned in the book of Judges. This was the town of Laish. We do not have any history of this town before this entry in the book of Judges or after. Yet, this town stands out as a perfect example of a people who were living a quiet and peaceable life on their own. They were not hurting anyone. They appeared to be good and moral. They got along with each other and did not even have a ruler over them.

Yet, they did not have Jesus!

In this story the contrast of the Danites compared to the town of Laish makes the Danites look like the villains. In reality, in this setting, they were. Neither the Danites nor the people of Laish were walking with God and obeying His commandments. One, a chosen tribe of Israel, had rejected God and was worshipping false idols and a false priest. The other, a people of unknown origin, was content not worshipping anyone or anything.

Neither had Jesus!

When the Danites attacked them the people of Laish were utterly destroyed. The account in Judges gives us this summary of this sad event.

“So they took the things Micah had made, and the priest who had belonged to him, and went to Laish, to a people quiet and secure; and they struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city with fire. There was no deliverer, because it was far from Sidon, and they had no ties with anyone. It was in the valley that belongs to Beth Rehob. So they rebuilt the city and dwelt there.” (Judges 18:27-28 NKJV)

What is the point of this story?

It illustrates the fallacy of living one’s life apart from Jesus. The Danites, living without Jesus, trusted in idols and destroyed an entire city of peaceful people. The people of Laish, without Jesus, had no one to call upon in their time of need and had no other support so they were utterly destroyed. The point of this story is that the same fate awaits all people who do not have Jesus. It is a fate filled with emptiness and destruction. The Apostle Paul summarizes in the book of Romans,

“What then? Are we better than them? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. As it is written: “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NO, NOT ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS; THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS AFTER GOD.” (Romans 3:9-11 NKJV)

And,

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23 NKJV)

The fate of the people of Laish, although they were living a peaceful life, was set because they did not have Jesus. The fate of the children of Dan would be delayed, but they would pay a price in the Assyrian captivity when, like Laish, their cities were destroyed by an enemy. It does not matter whether we live with a veneer of religion or appear to be good moral people. If we do not have Jesus we will meet the same fate.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 NKJV)

I will always remember a Gospel song of long ago that spoke to my heart. It was called – “People Need The Lord (Jesus).” Here is a bit of that song.

Everyday they pass me byI can see it in their eyesEmpty people filled with careHeaded who knows where

On they go through private painLiving fear to fearLaughter hides their silent criesOnly Jesus hears

People need the Lord, people need the LordAt the end of broken dreams, He’s the open doorPeople need the Lord, people need the LordWhen will we realize people need the Lord?

Why do I need Jesus? I need Jesus to experience the forgiveness of sins and to be changed from within. I need Jesus to lead me in the pathway of righteousness every day. I need Jesus to enable me to love and forgive others. I need Jesus to enter into the blessing of eternal life when I die. Every moment of the day…

I NEED JESUS!

Lord, I don’t want to be like the Danites who lived with a veneer of religion but lived without Jesus. I don’t want to be like the people of Laish who quietly trusted in themselves until their final day approached and they were met with destruction. I want to be like those who have received the free gift of life through faith in Jesus Christ and who live in the power of His love and life each day! I pray that that every one will realize that…

WE ALL NEED JESUS!

“For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” (II Corinthians 5:19-21)

In Jesus’ Name!