“Try Jesus for a Better Life” and Other Unbiblical Nonsense
The unwarranted belief that God has made salvation a possibility for all people everywhere and at all times, leads to silly motives for evangelism and silly practices, too. This is especially true in the mega-shallow church in America.
Who are these mega clowns? They offer Jesus like a consumer product complete with the promise of a better life, “Do you want a better life? Do you want to do life better?…Try Jesus.” Somebody needs to send these church marketers a copy of Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. They literally have the wrong Christianity, and the carnalites cannot get enough of what these men (and women) are vending.
Today’s popular preacher unhitches the Old Testament from the Bible so to deprive his mega audience of any notion of substitutionary atonement. Jesus is cool. He makes peoples’ lives better, but there is not even a hint that He is the Lamb of God, slain from before the foundation of the world (Jn 1:20; Rev 5:6, 9, 12; 13:8), in the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God (Acts 2:23).
There is no testimony of Jesus’ blood (Mt 26:28; Eph 1:7; 1 Pet 1:19); and what little cross may be found in the pulpit-less chat-rooms of American Christianity entertainment and event centers is mostly psychological gibberish. The deceiver is always close to the truth, however. At points, he may venture to say, “Jesus died so you could have a better life.” There is just enough truth to fend off the curmudgeon who protests in a “cynical” spirit (a.k.a. yours truly).
Jesus does give eternal life to His elect sheep (Jn 10:28). His chosen people rejoice. This life in Christ is abundant (Jn 10:10; Eph 3:20; 1 Tim 1:14), but not in cash, material possessions, or success. The adopted child of God has all the spiritual blessings bestowed upon him in the realm of the spiritual kingdom (Rom 8:15, 23; Eph 1:3–5). Things like peace and joy in the Holy Spirit are good examples (Rom 14:17).
One does not “try” the King of kings like a take it or leave it proposition. Further, these charlatan hucksters, hawking samples of Jesus for a profit (yes, check that out wary shopper!), offer Him to everyone in the belief that Jesus is for everyone…not just for His church.
It is true that the Gospel is preached to all creation (Mt 24:14; Mk 16:15), but it is not offered to anyone. God is calling His own to Himself (Jn 10:3, 16, 27), but those who do not belong to Jesus may still be privy to hearing His Gospel call (Jn 10:26). They will not follow Him because it is not their choice to do so. There is no grace for the reprobate (Rom 9:22).
The sovereign King of the universe has made a declaration of His will, known to those who have ears to hear, but He is not trying to entice all people to come to Himself for free goodies, like a candy monger at See’s Candies.
This “free sample of Jesus” with the false promise of an easier life (that’s what the salesman wants you to think by using the word “better”) is nowhere found in Scripture. It has been granted to us to believe in Jesus, and also to suffer for His name (Jn 16:33; Acts 9:16; Col 1:24; Rom 8:18; Phil 1:29).
It is true that some are appointed to eternal life by God, and they do believe (Acts 13:48). This occurs at the time of faithful preaching and enabled hearing (Rom 10:14–17), both of which are a product of the Holy Spirit’s work. These believers join in the sufferings of Christ, along with the rest of His body (Col 1:24). They are called to deny themselves, take up their cross, and to follow Jesus into death of self (Mt 16:24). They pray to God along with their Lord, “Not my will, but Thine be done (Lk 22:42).”
The Gospel is not an invitation to ease and comfort, but it is a command to suffer and die. Do you want to try Jesus now? It will be poverty, not financial prosperity. It will be persecution, not popularity. It will be a path of humiliation, not pride. You will be a fool for Christ (1 Cor 4:10). Welcome!
God’s command to follow Him is irresistible to the regenerate, elect soul (Jn 3:1–8; Eph 2:5; Col 2:13; 1 Pet 1:3). She will gladly lose her carnal life in this world for the pledge of life from the next (2 Cor 5:5). She knows who she has believed because His Spirit lives in her (Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11; Gal 4:6; 2 Tim 1:14). She is convinced that this present suffering is not to be compared to the glory to be revealed to her (Rom 8:18). She knows that God is able to keep all of His promises because He is faithful and true (Rev 19:11).
Friend, you may have “tried” Christianity and it did not work for you…whatever that means. You may be at a Christian entertainment campus each weekend, wondering whether there is something more than token, topical, tidbits to try. There is so much more!
My advice for you is to read your Bible and pray that God would lead you to a local church that trusts in His sovereign grace (Ps 115:3; 135:6; Eph 2:8–9). This preached Gospel of grace will be your steady diet of God’s Word (1 Cor 1:18, 23; 2:2, 4), bread from heaven, in that place. The Gospel of grace is the good news of God sovereignly saving his people from sin, death, judgment, wrath, and eternal punishment in fiery hell (Mt 25:41, 46; Jude 7; Rev 20:14–15).
Glory is coming to the sons of God, but it is at the end of a path marked with suffering. Then and there you will have the best of His best. Until then, His grace will be sufficient for you in the midst of diverse troubles and suffering on your pilgrim way in this lost world.
Do not “try Jesus” or you will end your life being tried and found guilty by Him on the day of judgment (Is 13:6; Acts 10:42; Rom 2:5; 2 Tim 4:1; 1 Pet 4:5). Instead, trust Him, today, if He is calling you to come die with Him. He alone is able to raise you up on the last day (Jn 6:39, 40, 44, 54). May your resurrection from the dead be to life (Jn 5:29; Heb 11:35), and then, may it be to a better life, a better possession (Heb 10:34), in a better country (Heb 11:16).
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
April 20, 2022
