Recently I saw the words “TRY GOD” on a decal on the back of a truck. The despair that is so prevalent in our society can be traced to a removal of God from His rightful place. To fear God and keep His commandments is the whole of man (Ecc. 12:13). Yet, if there is no ultimate meaning—if humans are not created in the image of God, but instead are trivial blips in the billions of years of evolutionary processes that will finally result in heat death¹ —then the insignificance of our lives becomes unbearable. We are created to worship and serve something higher than ourselves. Eternity has been set in our hearts, and we desire to be among the tree of life to live forever (Gen. 3:22; Ecc. 3:11; Rev. 22:2). Some of the mental health issues we see today may have as a contributing cause the lack of having God in one’s life in any real way. Additionally, many of those in recovery programs acknowledge the need for God in their lives; they may have tried various drugs and alcohol as a false panacea for their ills and realized that only God can fill the void.

However, it is very important to recognize God is not something we “try” like a product, or a pill, or a new kind of therapy, just so our lives are better. No doubt, the Christian life is the best life filled with good days (1 Pet. 3:10). But God deserves our obedience, devotion, and worship because of Who He is, regardless of whether or not it “works” for us. We must bring Jehovah the glory, worship, and offerings that are due His name (1 Chr. 16:29; Psa. 29:2; 96:8). “The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein” (Psa. 24:1). All our possessions belong to the Lord, for He is the creator of all things (Jn. 1:3). When Job lost so much, he still worshipped God (Job 1:20), acknowledging this truth, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job. 1:21). The Lord Jesus Christ is the only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords” (1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 19:16). If He did not continue to uphold the processes of the world and all things by the word of His power, we would all perish (Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3). Our very souls belong to God (Ezek. 18:4). He is the Father of spirits, Who creates the spirit of man within him, and gives to all life, breath, and all things (Isa. 42:5; Zech. 12:1; Heb. 12:9; Acts 17:25).

God is not merely an option to try for a while; He is the only way of salvation (Acts 16:17). The most important question is, “What think ye of Christ?” (Mt. 22:42). There is no salvation in any other name than His (Acts 4:12; Jn. 14:6). If we reject His words, we will be judged (Jn. 12:42). Salvation is available through Jesus, but condemnation is the other side of the coin (Jn. 3:16, 18, 36). These are the only two destinies (Mt. 25:46). Jesus has not left neutrality towards Him to be an option. We must choose today whom we will serve (Josh. 24:15). 

 ¹ a term in thermodynamics to describe the end of the entropy process.

The apostle Paul referred to the glorious gospel of Christ (2 Cor. 4:4) as a treasure in earthen vessels (2 Cor. 4:7). Compared to his physical body which easily broke as a clay jar would, the revealed truth Paul held was everlasting (Rev. 14:6) and of infinite value. The gospel of Christ is so valuable that Paul wrote, “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Eph. 3:8). As the Jewish people had the great privilege of having the Old Testament, the oracles of God, entrusted to them (Rom 3:1-2). In delivering the New Testament, Paul recognized the great honor that he—along with the other apostles and prophets of the first century—had who “were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel” (1 Thess. 2:4).

Since the gospel of Christ is unsearchable in its value, we must exercise the greatest care and responsibility in defending it. In His application of a parable Jesus asked, “If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?” (Lk. 16:11). Paul was set for the defense of the gospel (Phil. 1:7, 17). The gospel is the good news that Jesus died for our sins (1 Cor. 15:3; 1 Pet. 2:24; 1 Jn. 4:10), shedding His precious blood (Mt. 20:28; 26:28; Heb. 9:22), and rose again to give us justification and eternal life (1 Pet. 1:3; 3:21; Rom. 4:25). The gospel is God’s power to salvation (Rom. 1:16). If men will receive God’s engrafted word, it is able to save their souls (Jas. 1:21).

The gospel has always been brought to the lost by human agency. God does not appear directly to the sinner to tell him the gospel; instead, He commissions His people to go speak to the lost: “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Rom. 10:14). The apostles were to go into all the world with the gospel (Mk. 16:15). When human authorities charged them not to preach the gospel of Christ, they affirmed their commitment to obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29). They knew the value of the gospel was greater than their own physical lives on this earth. Thus, they did not stop, but rather daily preached Christ, both publicly in the temple, and privately in every house (Acts 5:42). They were determined to follow the Lord’s command to carry the gospel to every nation (Mt. 28:19). They would replicate this command to all who became disciples (Mt. 19:20). Thus, we today are to carry the gospel to the world in following the commands of Jesus. We have the complete word of God fully delivered to us today in the words of the Bible (Jude 3; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:3). How do we value the word of God? Do we respond with joy to the message—which opens up the kingdom of heaven to us—so much so that we would give up whatever is needed for it (Mt. 13:44-46)? Are we intent on making this amazing treasure we have found available to those who do not know about it?