An important lesson

"My greatest disappointments in life have been when I ask anyone or anything other than Jesus Christ to be my saviour."

I came across this line a few months ago.  I wrote it down on a piece of paper by my desk, as I was powerfully affected by this statement.  At first glance, it seems that this statement is stating the obvious.  Of course Jesus is my saviour.  Of course nothing will redeem me other than the blood of Christ.  But if one stops thinking there, then the point of the statement has been completely missed.

I know that in my own life, I can easily fall into the trap of "if only".  I say to myself, "Yes, my life is complete in Jesus Christ, but if only I had enough money, I would have everything I need.  My life is complete in Christ, but if only that one girl would fall in love with me, I wouldn't be lonely.  My life is fulfilled through my relationship with Jesus, but if only I was done school, I would be in the right place to see my life come together".

I still believe in the redeeming power of Christ, but I need to remember that  nothing will save me or make me complete apart from Christ.  No power, money, relationships, or possessions can fulfill me.  Every time I put my faith in something other than Christ, I will be disappointed eventually.

I don't claim to know exactly how Christ saves me, or what being saved by Jesus looks like, but I do know that the more I trust Him to complete my life, the more satisfied I become.  And when I ask Jesus to save me from disappointment or failure or loneliness, I am asking the only person who is capable of doing these things.

"My greatest disappointments in life have been when I ask anyone or anything other than Jesus Christ to be my saviour".  And conversely, my sweetest victories have been through Jesus Christ, who has redeemed me.  As a new decade begins, my hope is that I would continually ask Jesus Christ to be the only thing that I look to for redemption.