Ashes, Ashes, We All Fall Down

 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.  John 10:9-11

Satan is a liar.

Somehow he has managed to convince more than 5000 teenagers each year that it would be better to end their lives than to find hope and press on. He also whispers into the ears of another 400,000 students annually, persuading them to attempt suicide.

Satan is a thief.

Jesus wasn't kidding when he said that the "thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy...". The devil wants to steal your heart, kill your joy, and destroy your hope. He tells you that happiness can be found through money, success, and self-gratification. Just like drinking seawater, he gives you a temporary feeling of satisfaction from these things, but they only leave you thirstier than you were before.

Jesus is the Truth.

He is the Living Water. If you have fallen into any kind of depression, it may be because you are trying to live without Him. No amount of money, success, or human love can quench the thirst of a life-parched soul. The brilliant physicist Robert Oppenheimer, for example, considered his life a failure. When reminded of his successes--such as directing the Los Alamos Project that produced the atomic bomb--he replied, "They leave on the tongue only the taste of ashes."

How does life taste to you these days? If it has lost some of its flavor, perhaps you are in one of three categories.

1. You may be feeling spiritually thirsty, and you don't have God in your life. In that case, you can begin a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ right this moment and let Him fill that emptiness.
2. You may be feeling that life is meaningless even though you have a personal relationship with Christ. Believing the lies of Satan can create that feeling. You need to go to God daily, even hourly and commit your circumstances and feelings to Him. Also, you must orient your life around serving Christ first, and then God will bring you-not the seawater of happiness- but the Living Water of joy. Take action now!
3. Perhaps you've overcome the problem of hopelessness, leading you to understand the feeling of fulfillment that comes from knowing God personally and living in fellowship with Him. If so, you need to share that good news with your friends. Encourage them by word and by deed to place their trust in Christ as their Savior before it's too late. Chances are, they're getting a little tired of the taste of ashes.

Questions:

1. What things are in your life that taste like "ashes"?
2. What changes can you make to dig your well deeper in your relationship with Christ?
3. Do you have a friend who needs to hear about Christ?
4. What can you do about it this week?