What Will You Do About Jesus?

We insure houses that may never burn, plan vacations, and agonize over what to wear to soon-forgotten events. Yet we give little thought to the one appointment none of us can cancel: the end of this life. There is a 100% chance that each of us will leave this earth. Our possessions, titles, and accomplishments will remain behind. What will matter is whether this life was all there was—and, if not, what comes next. Standing at the center of that question is Jesus. Most people have heard of Him. Some regard Him as a historical figure, teacher, or prophet. Others recognize Him as the Son of God but have never considered what His life, death, and resurrection mean to them personally. His name is familiar, but familiarity can discourage investigation. Jesus did not present Himself merely as someone to admire. He claimed authority to forgive sins and said that He was the way, the truth, and the life—the only way. Either He was deluded, deceptive, or He was telling the most consequential truth ever spoken. More than two thousand years later, the world’s dominant calendar numbers its years in relation to His birth. His teachings helped shape ideas about mercy, forgiveness, human dignity, and care for the vulnerable. Influence does not prove divinity, but a life that changed civilization deserves more than a passing glance. The sustaining influence of Jesus deserves investigation. Many people do not consciously reject Him; they remain too busy to consider Him. We fill every quiet space with noise because silence allows deeper questions to surface: Why am I here? What makes life meaningful? What happens when I die? Could Jesus be who He claimed to be? Our culture is not less spiritual; it is spiritually eclectic. People pursue peace through meditation, crystals, energy, and personalized beliefs. The hunger is real, but not everything offered as food is equally nourishing—or true. We want transcendence without authority, peace without repentance, and purpose without surrender. Jesus asks not to be added to our lives, but to become the center of our lives. Christianity stands or falls on one historical claim: Jesus Christ was crucified, buried, and rose from the dead. If He did not rise, Christianity can be dismissed. If He did, nothing is more consequential to us personally. Churches and the Christians in them have, at times, caused terrible harm. Christianity cannot be judged by the perfection of its followers. It has no perfect followers—no religion does. Christianity is not an achievement to be attained by flawless people but rather a rescue for those who know they need the mercy, restoration, and the kind of eternal life only Jesus can provide. It is possible to believe accurate facts about Jesus without entrusting our lives to Him. Demonic spirits recognized Him as “the Son of God,” yet their recognition did not involve love, obedience, or allegiance. As James wrote, “Even the demons believe and shudder.” Believing that Jesus existed—even accepting that He is the Son of God—is not the same as following Him. Genuine faith means receiving His grace, placing our lives in His hands, and accepting His purposes for us. That is the true meaning of success. A person can build an empire and waste his or her life, while another can live quietly, love faithfully, and fulfill precisely what God created that person to do. Jesus is not a consultant hired to improve our agenda. He is Lord. The truly successful life is aligned with its Creator. Every person eventually answers the question of Jesus. Some answer yes; some answer no; many answer, “Not now.” But “not now,” repeated throughout a lifetime, eventually becomes no. Refusing to decide is itself a decision. Begin an honest investigation: Read what Jesus says about Himself in the book of John or Luke in the Bible. Examine both the evidence for the Resurrection and the objections to it in books like Evidence That Demands a Verdict by Josh and Sean McDowell and The Case for Christ by former atheist journalist Lee Strobel. Bring your questions, skepticism, failures, wounds, regrets, and fears. Jesus does not ask you to repair yourself before approaching Him. He asks you to turn to Him. Be honest. Pray, “Jesus, if You are real, help me recognize the truth.” Do not give the most important question of your existence whatever energy that remains after everything else has been done. The question for the fulfillment of your purpose and for eternity is whether you will trust Jesus with your life, receive His salvation, and allow His purposes to become your own. Everyone eventually answers the pivotal question: What will I do with Jesus? This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rhondasciortino.substack.com